Kathmandu, November 16

Sharad Veswakar scored a timely half century as Nepal national cricket team defeated Hong Kong by 40 runs in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan grounds in Savar today.

Batting first, Nepal were bowled out for 217 runs in their accumulated 50 overs before packing Hong Kong for 177 runs with 25 balls to spare to record their first victory in the tournament.

Nepal came under early pressure after skipper Gyanendra Malla (naught) and Kushal Bhurtel (one) returned to the pavilion with just three runs on the board. Vesawkar and vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee revived the innings with 83-run partnership for the third wicket.

After Airee departed for 37 off 67 balls hitting three fours, Vesawkar and Asif Sheikh added 74 runs for the fourth wicket. Sheikh struck three each fours and sixes in his 48-ball 42. Vesawkar stood firm at one end and was dismissed in the penultimate ball of the innings while trying to play a big shot. In his patient knock of 139-ball 89, Vesawkar struck nine boundaries.

Wicketkeeper Binod Bhandari also contributed in double figures, scoring 13-ball 15. Mohammad Aizaz Khan was the pick of the Hong Kong bowlers taking 3-42, while Nasrulla Rana and Ehsan Nawaz grabbed two wickets each.

In reply, Hong Kong were never really in contention and half of their batsmen had already made their way back to the pavilion with just 47 runs on the board. Wicketkeeper Binod Bhandari took a total of six catches behind the stumps, while Karan KC (3-32) and Abinash Bohara (3-32) shares six wickets between them. Sushan Bhari grabbed two wickets, while two Hong Kong batsmen were run out.