KATHMANDU: Nepal faced 83 runs defeat to Hong Kong during the ICC World Cricket League Championship played at the Mission Road Ground, in Hong Kong, on Friday.

Nepal won a toss and invited the hosts to bat first in a crucial encounter of the campaign.

Nepal's strike bowler Karan KC drew first blood as he removed the hosts opening batsman Anshuman Rath for naught caught by Gyanendra Malla in his opening spell.

The hosts, at one stage were reeling 109 for five, however, opener Jamie Atkinson anchored the innings with 76 of 117 deliveries with nine four and a maximum.

HK skipper Babar Hayat scored rapid 29 runs off just 26 balls with two hit to the fence and a towering six over mid wicket.

Tanwir Afzal contributed valuable 38 runs off just 42 deliveries with three 4's and three 6's to post a challenging total on the board.

HK top scorer Atkinson trying to up the ante in the 41th over of the game perished while trying to smack Sushan Bhari's slow left arm orthodox delivery only into safe hands of Gyanendra Malla at long off before their innings folded for 194 runs in fifty overs.

Nepal's leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane was pick of the bowlers with 3 scalps, Karan KC and Basant Regmi chipped in with two wickets each.

In reply, Nepal poor showing with the bat continued as they managed to muster only 111 runs all out in 35 overs in pursuit of 194 runs victory in a crucial fixture.

Hong Kong's spinner Ehsan Khan and medium pacer Aizaz Khan shared eight wickets between them as they rattled Nepal's innings to skittle for paltry score of 111 runs.

Nepal poor opening woes continued at the top of the order as they lost Sagar Pun in the fifth over with 10 runs on the board.

At one state Nepal were reeling at 69 for four with top order batsmen back to pavilion leaving a task of chasing a decent total against a formidable bowling attack to the lower order.

Nepal's middle order crumbled as spinner Ehsan Khan waived his spin magic to bamboozle Nepali batsman and earn a comfortable victory to the hosts.

Skipper Paras Khadka top scored for Nepal with 26 runs off 46 deliveries with three hits to the fence. Gyanendra Mall and Aarif Sheikh contributed with 21 and 23 runs respectively.

Ehsan Khan was pick of the bowler as he snared five wicket haul. Fast bowlers Kyle Christie and Tanwir Afzal chipped in with a wicket each.

Later, Hong Kong's Jamie Atkinson was adjudged man-of-the-match for his match winning innings of 76 runs.