A valiant chase from Nepal, marked by some key moments, wasn’t enough to overcome a dominant Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the thrilling culmination of the Hong Kong T20 Tri-Series. Despite a spirited fight, PNG secured an 86-run victory at the Mission Road Cricket Ground, capping off a successful tournament campaign.

Chasing a daunting target of 172, Nepal’s batting order faced an uphill battle. The early dismissals of Binod Bhandari and Kushal Bhurtel put them on the back foot. Sandeep Zora (17 runs) and skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel (12 runs) showed glimpses of the fight, but the PNG bowling attack, spearheaded by the fiery Kabua Moria, Sesay Bau, Shimo Kamiya and the disciplined Chad Soper (2 wickets), proved too strong.

PNG flexed their muscle with the bat earlier, posting 171 runs on the board. Tony Ura anchored the innings with a well-composed fifty, while Eli Nao’s unbeaten 30 provided valuable support. The crucial partnership between Ura and Hilla Ware propelled PNG to a substantial total.

Nepal’s bowlers, led by the wily Kushal Bhurtel (3 wickets) and the promising Akash Chand (3 wickets), performed commendably. Karan KC and Gulsan Jha also chipped in with wickets, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough to contain a rampant PNG batting lineup.

While Nepal couldn’t clinch the trophy, its spirited display throughout the series, including some standout performances in the international arena, will undoubtedly make it a force to be reckoned with in future tournaments.