Nepal skipper Gyanendra Malla led from the front to salvage a pride with a convincing seven-wicket win over Hong Kong in the ACC Emerging Nations Cup match at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium Academy Ground in  Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, on Thursday.

In a clash between the two ICC Associate members who were already out of  the semi-finals contention, Nepal signed off the tournament with a  face-saving victory after losing to Under-23 teams of Test-playing nations Pakistan on Monday and Bangladesh on Tuesday. Nepal were playing in the tournament with a depleted squad as three of their  first-team players—veteran spinners Basanta Regmi and Shakti Gauchan along with  paceman Sompal Kami—were rested following the ICC World  Cricket League Championship double header against Kenya earlier this  month.

Pakistan and Bangladesh had already secured the last four berths from Group ‘B’.  Sri Lanka and Afghanistan advanced to the semi-finals from Group ‘A’, while India and Malaysia crashed out. The  eight-team tournament features four U-23 Test-playing nations India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh along with ICC Associate members Afghanistan, Nepal, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Malla, leading the team in the absence of regular skipper Paras Khadka who was rested for the tournament to help him recover from an appendicitis operation that he underwent in mid-February, helped Nepal restrict Hong Kong for 214 in 50 overs with two crucial wickets before returning to slam a half century to lay the foundation for an easy chase.

Hong Kong openers Anshuman Rath and Cameron McAuslan were threatening to help post a big total when part-time off spinner Malla brought himself in to break the 95-run partnership. Malla had both the skipper Rath and McAuslan caught and bowled in quick succession. Rath scored 51 off 78 balls  with seven fours, while McAuslan made 82-ball 43 with five hits to the  fence.

Hong Kong were eventual bowled out in the last ball of their innings for 214, thanks to three wickets from Avinash Karn and two each from Bhuwan Karki and Sushan Bhari. Sandeep Lamichhane accounted for another Hong Kong  wicket.

In reply, Nepal lost wickets of Malla’s opening partner Aasif Sheikh (8)  and No 3 batsman Dilip Nath (12) cheaply but the skipper batted with  defiance at the other end. When Malla was finally bowled by Jhatavedh  Subramanyan for 70 runs in 27th over, Nepal were already in a cruise  control at 115-3. Malla slammed 11 boundaries in his innings.

Dipendra Singh Airee and vice-captain Sharad Vesawkar then struck half  centuries to complete the chase in 44.2 overs with an unbroken stand of  105 runs. Airee clobbered five boundaries and a six in his 83-ball  innings, while Vesawkar was at his aggressive best, hitting three sixes  and as many fours in his 51-ball 55. Subramanyan took two and Nizakat Khan  claimed one wicket for Hong Kong.

Summary

Nepal 220-3 in 44.2 overs (G Malla 70, DS Airee 60*, S Vesawkar 55*; J Subramanyan 2-31, N Khan 1-38) beat Hong Kong 214 in 50 overs (A Rath 51, C McAuslan 43) by seven wickets

Group B standings

Teams    M    W    L    T    Pts

Pakistan U23    3    2    0    1    5

Bangladesh U23    3    2    0    1    5

Nepal    3    1    2    0    2

Hong Kong    3    0    3    0    0