COLOMBO, November 24 2014:Â Sompal Kami scored a 31 ball 40 to take Nepal to what can be called a not-so embarrassing total. Before Kami came to the crease at no. 10 Nepal were 25/8 and looked like a 50 score was the best Nepal could do with. A blistering inning from Sompal Kami with a good support from Shakti Gauchan took Nepal to 72 all out at the end of 20 overs.
While 73 isn’t a strong total, it is better than anything around 50 which seemed impossible for Nepal after the collapse at the beginning of the inning, before Kami, the extras had scored more than any batsman in the Nepalese inning. The extras were at 6 runs while Nepal’s two best scoring batsmen were 5(15) from Budayair and Malla each.
Four bowlers from Hong Kong took 2 wickets each to keep Nepal in a tight spot. The bowlers were Tanwir Afzal 4-1-8-2; Irfan Ahmed 4-0-24-2; Anas Khan 4-1-4-2 and Nadeem Ahmed 4-1-11-2.
Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field first in the 4th T20 of the 5 match series. Nepal’s trouble started when Opener Pun fell for just 2(8) in the second over when Nepal were at 9/1 getting to 25/8 in the twelfth over. Shakti Gauchan’s 5(25) played a great role to take Nepal to a less humiliating target.
Hong Kong will want to go 1 up in the 5 match series after this match which was the first to be played as the first three were washed out without a ball being bowled.
Hong Kong will want to chase the target as soon as possible but Nepalese bowler will want to make sure that the match doesn’t go easily out of hand, especially Kami who would also want to perform with the ball to keep his 40 runs alive and running.
Source: ESPN Cricinfo
