CHITTAGONG: First-timers Nepal upset a higher ranked and more experienced Afghanistan by nine runs in Sylhet to record their second win in the World Twenty20 tournament on Thursday.

Nepal, sent in to bat, were lifted by opener Subash Khakurel’s career-best 56 to 141-5 and restricted their opponents to 132-8 in a Group A match.

The defeat meant Afghanistan lost two of their three matches and failed to reach the next round.

Paceman Jitendra Mukhiya, who finished with 3-18 in four overs, jolted Afghanistan with two early wickets, while spinner Shakti Gauchan took two wickets in one over to leave Afghanistan in tatters on 50-5.

Shafiqullah Shafiq (36) and Asghar Stanikzai (49) did their best to stop the collapse. But a 24-run target in the last over proved way beyond Afghanistan’s reach.

Nepal skipper Paras Khadka showed delight in the win.

“Afghanistan are a good team and this win showed we are improving with every day and it was a very good tournament for us,” said Khadka whose country played their first-ever major cricket event.

Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi was upset at the defeat.

“It was a big event but we didn’t start well and didn’t finish it well either, so we are upset,” said Nabi.

Earlier Khakurel anchored the Nepalese innings with some sensible batting, adding an invaluable 76 for the fourth wicket with Sharad Vesawkar who made 37.

Khakurel hit six boundaries and a six during his 53-ball knock before falling to paceman Shapoor Zadran, the best of the Afghan bowlers with 2-19.

The top team from each group will join eight seeded teams in the Super-10 stage, starting Friday.

Brief scores: Nepal 141 for 5 in 20 overs (S. Khakurel 56, S. Vesawkar 37; Shapoor Zadran 2-19).

Afghanistan 132-8 in 20 overs (Asghar Stanikzai 49, Shafiqullah Shafiq 36; J. Mukhiya 3-18)


Bangladesh qualifies despite defeat

Bangladesh sneaked into the Super-10 stage despite losing to minnows Hong Kong by two wickets in their last first-round match in Chittagong on Thursday.

Bangladesh, sent into bat, fell to a below-par total of 108 all out in 16.3 overs before Hong Kong reached the target for the loss of eight wickets in 19.4 overs.

Hong Kong needed to knock off the target in 13.1 overs to oust the home team in favor of Nepal.

Hong Kong could not achieve that and had almost lost the match before Munir Dar hit a match-turning 27-ball 36 and number nine Haseeb Amjad hit the winning six during his 12 not out.

It marks only the fourth occasion when an Associate side has beaten a full Test-playing country in a World Twenty20.

Shakib Al Hasan, who top-scored with 34, turned his left-arm over for 3-9 in his four overs, much to the joy of a capacity 18,000 fans at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Bangladesh won two of their three matches to qualify on a better net-run rate than Nepal for the next round starting from Friday.

Bangladesh join defending champions the West Indies, Pakistan, India and Australia in Group 2.

Ireland, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands compete for the second qualifying spot from Group B on Friday.

Bangladesh, sent into bat, had themselves to blame as they spurned a good chance of posting a big total, losing their last seven wickets for a mere 23 runs after being well set at 85-3 by 11th over.

It was Shakib’s wicket that triggered a collapse with left-arm spinner Nadeem Ahmed taking a career best 4-21 and leg-spinner Nizakat Khan grabbing 3-19.

Hong Kong started off well with opener Irfan Ahmed hitting three towering sixes and as many boundaries in his 28-ball 34 but once he was dismissed in the eighth over made the task difficult.

Munir Dar brought Hong Kong back with three boundaries and a six.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh 108 all out in 16.3 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 34, Anamul Haque 26; Nadeem Ahmed 4-21, Nizakat Khan 3-19)

Hong Kong 114-8 in 19.4 overs (Munir Dar 36, Irfan Ahmed 34; Shakib Al Hasan 3-9)