Nepal have given a sound reply to Hong Kong on the first day of their two-day match at the Abu Dhabi Oval 1 in the Unite Arab Emirates on Thursday.

After Hong Kong declared their first innings at 215-4 in 60 overs, a solid second-wicket partnership between Anil Mandal and Sagar Pun took Nepal to 106-1 in 36 overs with just four overs remaining in their first innings.

According to the two-day game format, the side batting first will bat 60 overs in the first innings and 40 in the second. The team batting second will get to play 40 overs in the first innings and 60 in their second.

Nepal lost opener Mahesh Chhetri (10) early in the game with just 21 runs on the board before Pun and Mandal rebuild the innings with an 85-run second wicket stand. Mandal, who has been in a fine form off late, completed his half century making 56 not out from 104 balls with nine boundaries.

Pun matched equally making an unbeaten 38 from 90 deliveries with five hits to the fence. Tanwir Afzal took the only Nepali wicket to fall. The two-day tour match comes as a part of preparation for both teams with Nepal playing Papua New Guinea in their ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) match on November 16 and 18. Hong Kong, meanwhile, play UAE in their Intercontinental Cup and WCLC matches.

Hong Kong began cautiously in their first innings dealing with Nepali seam trio of Bikram Sob, Mehboob Alam and Karan KC sensibly. Anshuman Rath and Kinchit Shah put on a 61-run opening wicket stand before Basanta Regmi struck. The spinner removed Shah for 29.

Rath was still going strong at 42 off 103 hitting six boundaries before he retired out. Babar Hayat and Nizakat Khan then consolidated the innings with an 81-run stand for the third wicket to put their team in a strong position. Khan made 48 off 63 with five fours and three sixes before falling prey to KC.

Hayat remained unbeaten on 68 from 107 balls with nine boundaries, while Regmi removed James Atkinson (12) to bring Nepal back in the game. Irshad Ahmed also played his first match, though unofficial, for Nepal but conceded 25 runs in his 11 wicketless overs. Regular skipper Paras Khadka sat out of game.  

CAN officials get clean chit

The Special Court on Thursday has given clean chit to the 10 officials of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) who were charged under corruption charges.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority on June 8 last year has charge sheeted the 10 officials including President Tanka Aangbuhang and General Secretary Ashok Nath Pyakurel for their alleged involvement in embezzling millions of rupees at different time frame.

The full bench of Special Court led by chairman Mohan Raman Bhattarai acquitted the accused arguing that the corruption allegations claimed by the anti graft body were baseless.

The CIAA had alleged the 10 officials of embezzling a total of Rs 14.43 million from the funds provided by the government and international governing bodies.

Vice-presidents Chatur Bahadur Chand, Binod Kumar Mainali and Sunil Man Amatya, secretary Thakur Pahari, treasurer Raju Babu Shrestha along with members Purna Lama, Kiran Rana, Thakur Pratap Thapa and National Sports Council engineer Arun Upadhyaya were other charged over corruption.

Six other individuals from private firms were also charge for their alleged involvement in the case and all of them were also given clean chit. CAN President Tanka Aangbuhang said the Court has ruled the truth.

“Our case was common and so has been the decision. This is nothing but victory of truth,” said Aangbuhang adding he will take over CAN from Friday. The charge sheeted officials had stepped aside temporarily to help the probe.