After put into bat, Nepal posted a competitive 141-5 riding on opener Subash Khakurel’s career-best 56 before left-handed medium pacer Jitendra Mukhiya triggered the Afghanistan collapse to restrict them for 132-8. Nepal were eliminated from the preliminary round despite Hong Kong upsetting hosts Bangladesh by two wickets in the other Group match.

The home team progressed only on better net run-rate after finishing tied on four points with Nepal. Had only Hong Kong won the match inside 13.1 overs, Nepal would have made it to second round.

Opener Khakurel anchored Nepal’s innings with his steady 56 from 53 balls which included a significant 76-run stand for the fourth wicket with Sharad Vesawkar (37).

Gyanendra Malla struck three fours and a six in his 13-ball 22 before holing out to Nawroz Mangal off Mohammad Nabi. Nepal then suffered a major blow when skipper Paras Khadka returned to the pavilion after scoring just one run. The skipper were bowled through the gates by Mirwais Ashraf.

Khakurel and Vesawkar then steadied the ship taking the total to 129-3 in 18 overs. Khakurel smashed six fours and a six before falling to Shapoor Zadran on the first ball of the 19th over. Shapoor also got rid of Vesawkar on the third ball. Shapoor finished with 2-19.

Jitendra Mukhiya dismissed Mohammad Shahzad (6) and Najibullah Zadran (5) to set the stage for a historic win against the side they had never ever beaten in previous six meetings. Karim Sadiq (8) and Nawroz Mangal (5) failed to shine and left-arm spinner Basanta Regmi got rid of dangerous  Shafiqullah for 36.

Shakti Gauchan took the prize scalp of captain Mohammed Nabi (1) while paceman Sompal Kami dismissed Asghar Stanikzai (49) in the eventful last over after the batsman had scored 14 in the first four balls.  Both the Spinners Gauchan and Regmi ably supported with the ball taking 2-25 and 1-28 respectively. Kami finished with 2-32.

IMS announces cash reward

KATHMANDU: IMS Teletrade, an authorised distributor of samsung mobiles in Nepal has announced a cash prize for the man-of-the-man of Nepal ICC World Twenty20 match against Afghanistan here on Thursday. Jitendra Mukhiya, who took 3-18 in the match in Chittagong, won the man-of-the-match award in Nepal nine-run win over Afghanistan meaning he is set to earn an additional Rs 100,000 from IMS Teletrade.