Kathmandu – Rain couldn’t dampen Nepal’s fiery batting as they secured a convincing eight-wicket victory over Hong Kong, booking their spot in the ACC Premier Cup T20 semifinals. This dominant performance marks Nepal’s third consecutive win in the tournament, solidifying their position at the top of Group A with an unassailable lead.

Hong Kong, meanwhile, finds its campaign in jeopardy. This loss adds to its previous struggles, leaving it rooted at the bottom of the group.

Nepal’s bowling attack laid the foundation for their success, restricting Hong Kong to a paltry 114 runs in a rain-affected 17.5 overs. Avinash Bohra spearheaded the bowling charge with a three-wicket haul, ably supported by Lalit Rajbanshi and Dipendra Singh Airee, who chipped in two wickets each.

Chasing a modest target, Nepal’s openers, Asif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel, stitched together a crucial 70-run partnership. While Sheikh anchored the innings with a well-made 40, Bhurtel provided valuable support with his 32. Captain Rohit Poudel and Sandeep Jora then ensured a smooth finish, contributing unbeaten knocks of 25 and 19 runs, respectively, as Nepal chased down the target in a mere 12.2 overs.

With their confidence soaring, Nepal now sets its sights on Wednesday’s final group stage encounter against Saudi Arabia. A strong finish in this match will be crucial as they prepare to battle it in the highly anticipated semifinals.