Malla and Spinners Set up Massive Win

Chittagong: Nepal marked their arrival on the international cricket stage with a massive 80-run win over fellow newcomers Hong Kong in a preliminary group match at the World Twenty20 Sunday.

Nepal hammered 149-8 after being sent into bat and then bowled Hong Kong out for just 69 in 17 overs in the day-night match at Chittagong's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.

The memorable group A win was set up by skipper Paras Khadka and Gyanendra Malla, who put on 80 for the third wicket after Nepal were reduced to 36-2 in 5.1 overs.

Khadka hit a 37-ball 41, while Malla made 48 off 41 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Nepal lost four wickets off the last four deliveries of the innings -- two of them run out -- which denied them a bigger total.

But even the 150-run target proved too stiff for Hong Kong after the inspirational Khadka had opener Irfan Ahmed caught behind with the first ball of the innings.

Hong Kong suffered a dramatic middle order collapse, losing four wickets in eight balls at the same score of 58.

The innings was wrecked by Nepal's two left-arm spinners, with Shakti Gauchan claiming three wickets for nine runs and Basant Regmi taking three for 14.

Babar Hayat top-scored for Hong Kong with 20, but eight batsmen failed to reach double figures against the steady Nepalese attack.

Hosts Bangladesh had thumped Afghanistan by nine wickets in the group A tournament opener in Dhaka earlier on Sunday.

Earlier, Hong Kong have won the toss and they have decided to bowl.

Teams:

Hong Kong: Waqas Barkat, Irfan Ahmed, James Atkinson (capt. & wk), Babar Hayat, Mark Chapman, Nizakat Khan, Tanwir Afzal, Aizaz Khan, Najeeb Amar, Haseeb Amjad, Nadeem Ahmed, Ehsan Nawaz, Roy Lamsam, Munir Dar, Kinchit Shah

Nepal: Subash Khakurel (wk), Sagar Pun, Gyanendra Malla, Paras Khadka (capt.), Binod Bhandari, Sharad Vesawkar, Naresh Bahadur Budayair, Basant Regmi, Shakti Prasad Gauchan, Sompal Kami, Jitendra Mukhiya, Pradeep Singh Airee, Avinash Karn, Rahul Vishwakarma, Amrit Bhattarai

Brief scores
Nepal - 149/8 (Malla 48, Khadka 41, Haseeb Amjad 3-25)
Hong Kong - 69 (Gauchan 3-9, Regmi 3-14)
Result - Nepal won by 80 runs
Points - Nepal 2, Hong Kong 0
MOM - Shakti Gauchan (Nepal)

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

Related links

ICC World Twenty20, 2014 News

Dhoni Named World T20 Team Captain [+]

The International Cricket Council announced the men's Team of the Tournament for the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh, with India's MS Dhoni as its captain.

India Drop to 2nd; Kohli, Ashwin Rise [+]

India lost their number one status to Sri Lanka but Kohli and Ashwin attained career-high positions of second and third respectively in the ICC rankings.

Brilliant Sanga Guides SL to World T20 [+]

Sri Lanka rode on a brilliant show by their bowlers and an outstanding knock by Kumar Sangakkara to thrash India by six wickets and clinch their maiden ICC World T20 title at the Shere Bangla National stadium.

A Farewell T20 Final For Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara [+]

Sri Lanka face a daunting test of nerves from dominant India in Sunday's all-Asian World Twenty20 final in Dhaka that is rich with incentives for both the teams. This will be last T20 international game for Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

Kohli Helps India Stroll into Final [+]

Riding on a brilliant knock by Virat Kohli and a fiery cameo from Suresh Raina in crunch situation, India stormed into World T20 final as they beat South Africa by six wickets in the second semifinal in Mirpur on Friday

India Will Reach Final Semi-final Washes Out [+]

With weather forecast predicting another round of heavy rainfall on Friday, India will be the lucky team as they would then automatically advance to the final.

Once Again Sri Lanka Through to Final [+]

Sri Lanka stormed into the World T20 final, thrashing defending champions West Indies as per Duckworth Lewis method at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday.

Hafeez Steps Down From T20 Captaincy [+]

Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez stepped down as Twenty20 captain on Thursday after the team's failure to qualify for the semifinals of the World T20.

South Africa Braces for India Spin Test [+]

South Africa are getting themselves into a spin ahead of their WorldT20 semi-final against India at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur on Friday.

Dhaka a Fresh Challenge for Sri Lanka Against West Indies [+]

West Indies have an advantage as they have played all their matches at Mirpur, Sri Lanka will feel better that the dew won't be a factor here as it has been at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.