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Nepal Vs Afganistan Match Report

Posted by Unknown | Friday, March 21, 2014 | Posted in ,

    Match Report: It was a clash of worldviews on display at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Thursday (March 20) and the gritty, never-say-die attitude of Nepal trumped the uber-confident boom or bust approach of Afghanistan. The result probably won’t mean much in terms of the ICC World Twenty20 2014, for Bangladesh seemed well on track to complete a clean sweep and head into the next round. But in the larger scheme of things, the hard-earned nine-run win meant that Nepal showed the world what rapid strides it had made in the game in a short period of time.


When Afghanistan won the toss and put Nepal in, there were signs that Mohammad Nabi believed he could bully the opposition a touch. Shapoor Zadran, who would be in the reckoning to make the cut in most full member teams, ran in with good rhythm, and Dawlat Zadran hurried the batsmen.

Sagar Pun and Subash Khakurel, attempting to grow into a steady partnership at the top of the order, played within themselves, content to play themselves in, even with the PowerPlay on. But Pun’s attempt to clear mid-off in the fourth over failed, and Nepal was 19 for 1.

Gyanendra Malla showed excellent urgency, attacking Samiullah Shenwari in the sixth over. A beautiful extra cover drive, all along the ground, a loft over a packed offside cordon and two monstrous mows over midwicket yielded an 18-run over and gave the Nepal innings the momentum it so badly needed. But, buoyed by his initial success Malla (22) attempted a reverse sweep when a safe single was on offer and popped a catch to short third-man.

Paras Khadka, who has been the backbone of Nepal’s batting in the tournament, attempted to go big, across the line, before he had the measure of conditions, and Mirwaiz Ashraf made a mess of the stumps. Its two most accomplished batsmen were back in the hut with only 53 on the board and 11 overs still to play, and Nepal was in trouble.

Khakurel bailed it out with a mature innings, building a partnership with a 76-run fourth-wicket stand in which Subash Vesawkar showed that his team was not solely dependent on a couple of players. Khakurel was not afraid to play out a few more dot balls than you usually see in a Twenty20 innings, and it was largely his 56 – the first half-century by a Nepal batsman at this level – that gave the innings substance. Khakurel may have consumed 53 balls in the process, striking at just over 103, but his effort meant that Afghanistan’s bowlers did not run roughshod over Nepal.

Vesawkar helped himself to a 32-ball 37, but once more Nepal failed to finish its innings strongly, and ended on 141 for 5, at least 20 runs short on a belter of a pitch.

Afghanistan began its innings in strange fashion, neither opener keen on singles. While Nepal’s bowlers lacked the zip and verve of its Afghan counterparts, they were more disciplined, and when this was backed up by plucky fielding, the boundaries were hard to come by. Karim Sadiq (8) and Mohammad Shahzad (6) swung at everything with gay abandon anyway, and it was no real surprise that both were dismissed cheaply.

With the openers gone in a hurry the natural thing to do for the middle order would have been to buckle down and get a partnership going, especially given that the target was not a massive one. But, Najibullah Zadran chipped one straight to mid-on, Nawroz Mangal was brilliantly caught by Khadka running back a long way towards square-leg and Nabi was trapped in front of the stumps as Afghanistan slumped to 50 for 5.

Shafiqullah used the same approach as those before him, but connected cleanly over and over again, slapping five fours and one monstrous six over square-leg for 36 before failing to keep a cut shot down off Basant Regmi.

When Afghanistan’s last recognised pair, Asghar Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari, came together, 59 runs were still needed, off only 35 balls. The two had no option but to be aggressive and Stanikzai got a move on, sending Shakti Gauchan deep into the stands over long-on. The equation was reduced to 30 off the final two overs, and Nepal desperately needed to break the partnership.

With only three runs coming off the first three balls of the penultimate over, Shenwari pulled out the big shot, but only managed to sky the ball back over the bowler’s head. Charging in from wide mid-off, Khadka pulled off his second stunner of the game, swinging the balance in his team’s favour.

When the final over began, with 24 still needed, all eyes were on Stanikzai. Booming shots off the first two balls brought boundaries at midwicket as Malla, running across from long-on failed to pull the ball back on both occasions. Sompal Kami, reading the batsman’s intentions, speared the third ball full, outside the off, and the batsmen managed to scramble two. The fourth ball was short, and disappeared once more, leaving 10 needed off two. Stanikzai’s luck ran out off the penultimate ball when he holed out to long-on, Malla making no mistake and ending a rousing innings on 49. When the final ball was sent down, Afghanistan ended on 132 for 8, 10 adrift of pulling off a major heist.(source-icc-cricket.com)

Nepal routs Hong Kong in one-sided affair ;Left-arm spinners Shakti Gauchan and Basant Regmi to the fore as Hong Kong is beaten by 80 runs

Posted by Unknown | Sunday, March 16, 2014 | Posted in ,

Paras Khadka talks a good game of cricket, and he, along with ten of Nepal’s finest, walked the walk in their country’s debut match of the ICC World Twenty20 2014, wrapping up a historic and sparky win over Hong Kong. For a decade and a bit, Nepal waited patiently, and when the moment came, it seized it in some style, blowing away Hong Kong in an 80-run win in Chittagong on Sunday (March 16).

With Bangladesh shooting Afghanistan out on a dry turner in Mirpur to get the tournament off to the start home fans wanted, a festive crowd turned up at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and got their money’s worth. Even in countries where fans are passionate about the game, it isn’t easy to draw big crowds for games between two neutral associates and when in excess of 10,000 cheered as one, it certainly made world cricket’s newest entrants feel welcome and wanted at the highest level.

When Jamie Atkinson, Hong Kong’s captain, won the toss, he did not need to think too much about putting Nepal in. A generous smattering of live grass on the pitch and the possibility of dew later in the evening prompted the move. While the thinking was sound, it did not quite factor in the determination of the Nepalis.

Subhash Khakurel and Sagar Pun showed no sign of nerves at the top of the order, even against the quality of Tanwir Afzal and Haseeb Amjad, two bowlers good enough to have played for Pakistan Under19. Khakurel was comfortable on front and back foot, a swiveling pull off Afzal early on setting the pace. Pun took a liking to the spinners, stepping down the pitch to loft 42-year-old debutant Najeeb Amar over cover off the first ball he bowled.

Hong Kong pulled things back after a brisk start with both openers being dismissed with the score on 36.

Khadka opened his account with a meaty slog sweep, and proved he was not a one-trick pony with an effortless lift over extra-cover. On 20, Khadka should have been back in the hut, but Afzal dropped the first of many catches for Hong Kong, grassing a sitter at long-on.
Once he had the opening, Khadka made the most of it, chancing his arm in the company of Gyanendra Malla, who endeavoured to keep his end solid. The two ran hard between the wickets – all those years of high-altitude living clearly making things easier at sea level – and before Hong Kong knew it, the game was slipping away.

When Khadka (41) holed out at long-on in the 17th over, Hong Kong was still in with a sniff, but Malla then took over, raining big blows. Malla (48) was one of four wickets to fall in an anticlimactic final over, but Nepal had done enough, putting 149 on the board.

Hong Kong needed a strong start, but it got anything but that as Khadka, bowling around the stumps to the right-handed Irfan Ahmed, struck off the first ball. Pushing forward, Irfan feathered an edge and Khakurel fumbled the ball but held on for dear life.

Sompal Kami, the youngest player to feature in this tournament at 18 years and 42 days, got a back of a length skidder to hurry Atkinson and a thick inside edge crashed on to the stumps. Waqas Barkat (18) played some muscular heaves through the on-side and Mark Chapman contemplated getting his eye in before teeing off, but Nepal’s bowlers, backed by vigilant in-fielding, kept the pressure on. Basant Regmi tossed one of his left-arm spinners up just enough to beat Chapman in the flight and when the stumps were disturbed, the chase was dead in the water at 58 for 4. That three more wickets fell on the same score, Nizakat Khan, Afzal and Aizaz Khan all falling for ducks, confirmed the rout.

Shakti Gauchan (3/9) and Regmi (3/14), showed just why left-arm spin is king in Bangladesh as Hong Kong imploded to 69 all out in 17 overs.

If this was the worst nightmare coming true for Hong Kong, a team that has strived over the years to show just what the smaller cricketing nations can do with the right help, it was nothing short of a fairytale for Nepal. Now that this is out of the way, the dreams of Khadka, his team-mates and their many staunch followers, will only get bigger and bigger

Nepal VS Hong KOng LIVE Update

Posted by Unknown | | Posted in

   Nepal-149/8

Run Rate: 7.45
Overs 20/20   

VS

Hong Kong-58/4

Run Rate: 5.61
Overs 10.2/20
   

Match Details

............................
Toss: Hong Kong, who chose to field

Venue: Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Rod Tucker, Paul Reiffel, Sundaram Ravi

Referee: Javagal Srinath

    Nepal innings
    Powerplay: 44 runs, 2 wickets
    Nepal: 50 runs in 7.1 overs
    3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 47 balls (Gyanendra Malla 13, Paras Khadka 31)
    Nepal: 100 runs in 14.3 overs
    Innings Break: Nepal - 149/8 in 20 overs

Playing XI

Nepal

1        Subash Khakurel (W)   
2        Sagar Pun
3        Gyanendra Malla
4        Paras Khadka (C)   
5        Binod Bhandari
6        Sharad Vesawkar
7        Naresh Budayair
8        Basant Regmi
9        Shakti Gauchan
10        Sompal Kami
11        Jitendra Mukhiya
 

Hong Kong

1        Waqas Barkat
2        Irfan Ahmed
3        Jamie Atkinson (C)(W)   
4        Babar Hayat
5        Mark Chapman
6        Nizakat Khan
7        Tanwir Afzal
8        Aizaz Khan
9        Najeeb Amar
10        Haseeb Amjad
11        Nadeem Ahmed  

 

LIVE MATCH UPDATE

   
10.1
B Regmi to M Chapman, 89.8 km/h good length outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary
Over 10 (6 runs) HKG 52/3
B Hayat     20* (24)
M Chapman*     7* (9)

9.6
S Pun to B Hayat, 94.2 km/h good length on middle stump. He picks up two through mid-wicket
9.5
S Pun to B Hayat, no run, 93.0 km/h good length going down leg. He plays and misses
9.4
S Pun to M Chapman, 84.4 km/h good length just outside off stump. He picks up a single straight down the ground
9.3
S Pun to B Hayat. He picks up a single straight down the ground
9.2
S Pun to M Chapman, 80.4 km/h good length outside off stump. He picks up a single through the covers
9.1
S Pun to B Hayat, 92.7 km/h good length on off stump. He picks up a single down to 3rd man
Over 9 (1 run) HKG 46/3
M Chapman     5* (7)
B Hayat*     16* (20)

8.6
S Gauchan to M Chapman, no run, 87.7 km/h short length just outside off stump. There is no run there
8.5
S Gauchan to M Chapman, no run, 83.8 km/h short length going down leg. There is no run there
8.4
S Gauchan to M Chapman, no run, 81.4 km/h good length on middle stump. He can't get that one off the square
8.3
S Gauchan to B Hayat, 91.7 km/h short length on middle stump. He picks up a single straight down the ground
8.2
S Gauchan to B Hayat, no run, 94.8 km/h good length just outside off stump. He can't get that one off the square
8.1
S Gauchan to B Hayat, no run, 86.6 km/h good length on middle stump. There is no run there
Over 8 (7 runs) HKG 45/3
M Chapman     5* (4)
B Hayat*     15* (17)

7.6
S Pun to M Chapman, 78.0 km/h good length outside off stump. He picks up two backward of square on the off side
7.5
S Pun to M Chapman, no run, 87.7 km/h good length outside off stump. He plays and misses
7.4
S Pun to M Chapman, 79.3 km/h good length just outside off stump. He picks up two through the covers
7.3
S Pun to B Hayat, 83.2 km/h short length on off stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
7.2
S Pun to M Chapman, 75.9 km/h good length just outside off stump. He picks up a single straight down the ground
7.1
S Pun to B Hayat, 81.0 km/h short length on leg stump. He picks up a single down to fine leg
Over 7 (3 runs, 1 wicket) HKG 38/3
B Hayat*     13* (15)
M Chapman     0* (0)

6.6
S Gauchan to B Hayat, 90.2 km/h short length on middle stump. He picks up a single straight down the ground
6.5
S Gauchan to B Hayat, no run, 87.5 km/h short length on off stump. He edges but survives

Wicket! Barkat comes down the track, goes inside out again but this time the timing is not there and Mukhiya is in from long off to take a simple catch!
6.4
S Gauchan to W Barkat, WICKET!!! W Barkat is out c Jitendra Mukhiya b Shakti Gauchan
6.3
S Gauchan to B Hayat, 91.9 km/h good length outside off stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
6.2
S Gauchan to W Barkat, 84.7 km/h short length on middle stump. He defends
6.1
S Gauchan to W Barkat, no run, 89.9 km/h short length on leg stump. He defends
Over 6 (5 runs) HKG 35/2
B Hayat     11* (12)
W Barkat*     17* (16)

5.6
B Regmi to B Hayat, no run, 84.7 km/h good length going down leg. He plays and misses
5.5
B Regmi to W Barkat, 86.1 km/h good length on off stump. He picks up a single straight down the ground
5.4
B Regmi to W Barkat, no run, 89.3 km/h good length going down leg. He plays and misses
5.3
B Regmi to W Barkat, no run, 91.2 km/h short length on off stump. He can't get that one off the square
5.2
B Regmi to W Barkat, no run, 86.6 km/h good length on leg stump. He can't get that one off the square

Four! Delightful from Barkat, just eases the ball inside out over extra cover. Great footwork.
5.1
B Regmi to W Barkat, 81.7 km/h good length on leg stump. He hits a nice boundary through the covers
Over 5 (10 runs) HKG 30/2
B Hayat     11* (11)
W Barkat*     12* (11)

4.6
J Mukhiya to B Hayat, no run, 125.7 km/h good length outside off stump. He edges but survives
4.5
J Mukhiya to B Hayat, no run, 127.2 km/h short length outside off stump. Straight to the fielder

Four! Another huge swing from Hayat, this time he gets it over mid on and away for four more!
4.4
J Mukhiya to B Hayat, 123.6 km/h short length outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary through mid-wicket

Four! Huge slog across the line, Hayat connects and it flies away past square leg for four!
4.3
J Mukhiya to B Hayat, 125.2 km/h short length just outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary through mid-wicket
4.2
J Mukhiya to B Hayat, 127.3 km/h short length just outside off stump. He picks up two through the covers
4.1
J Mukhiya to B Hayat, no run. He can't get that one off the square
Over 4 (6 runs) HKG 20/2
B Hayat*     1* (5)
W Barkat     12* (11)

3.6
S Kami to B Hayat, 135.9 km/h short length just outside off stump. He picks up a single backward of square on the off side
3.5
S Kami to B Hayat, no run, 137.0 km/h short length outside off stump. Straight to the fielder
3.4
S Kami to W Barkat, 131.0 km/h short length outside off stump. He picks up a single backward of square on the off side
3.3
S Kami to W Barkat, no run, 132.4 km/h good length just outside off stump. He defends
3.2
S Kami to W Barkat, no run, 132.4 km/h good length just outside off stump. He defends

Four! Dear oh dear, shocking fielding from the man chasing back from mid on, slides to stop it and completely misses the pull back!
3.1
S Kami to W Barkat, 134.4 km/h full length on middle stump. He hits a nice boundary straight down the ground
Over 3 (5 runs) HKG 14/2
B Hayat     0* (3)
W Barkat*     7* (7)

2.6
P Khadka to B Hayat, no run, 94.7 km/h good length just outside off stump. He defends
2.5
P Khadka to B Hayat, no run, 95.1 km/h good length outside off stump. He plays and misses
2.4
P Khadka to B Hayat, no run, 94.5 km/h short length just outside off stump. He goes hard at the ball, but straight to the fielder
2.3
P Khadka to W Barkat, 93.9 km/h short length on middle stump. He picks up a single down to fine leg

Four! Gorgeous shot, Barkat comes down the track and times the ball perfectly through cover!
2.2
P Khadka to W Barkat, 93.1 km/h good length just outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary through the covers
2.1
P Khadka to W Barkat, no run, 89.0 km/h short length just outside off stump. Straight to the fielder
Over 2 (6 runs, 1 wicket) HKG 9/2
W Barkat*     2* (4)

Wicket! This one is not wide enough to cut, Atkinson takes it on and chops onto his stumps! Huge wicket for Nepal!
Over 2 (6 runs, 1 wicket) HKG 9/2
W Barkat*     2* (4)

1.6
S Kami to J Atkinson, WICKET!!! J Atkinson is out b Sompal Kami

Four! Short and wide, captain Atkinson cuts it over backward point for four!
1.5
S Kami to J Atkinson, 132.2 km/h short length outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary through the covers
1.4
S Kami to W Barkat, 135.3 km/h short length on leg stump. He defends
1.3
S Kami to W Barkat, no run, 132.6 km/h good length on off stump. He plays and misses
1.2
S Kami to W Barkat, no run, 125.8 km/h good length on middle stump. He defends

Sompal Kami has the ball at the other end
1.1
S Kami to J Atkinson, 125.9 km/h short length on middle stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
Over 1 (3 runs, 1 wicket) HKG 3/1
J Atkinson*     1* (4)
W Barkat     1* (1)

0.6
P Khadka to J Atkinson, 1 leg bye
0.5
P Khadka to W Barkat. He picks up a single through the covers
0.4
P Khadka to J Atkinson. He picks up a single through the covers
0.3
P Khadka to J Atkinson, no run. Straight to the fielder
0.2
P Khadka to J Atkinson, no run. There is no run there

Wicket! Khadka strikes first ball! The Nepalese captain gets a bit of extra bounce across Irfan and he gets a faint edge through to Khakurel who takes it standing up! What a start!
0.1
P Khadka to I Ahmed, WICKET!!! I Ahmed is out c Subash Khakurel b Paras Khadka

Here we go then, Irfan Ahmed and Waqas Barkat are out in the middle for Hong Kong, Paras Khadka has the ball

Paras Khadka and Gyanendra Malla put on a partnership of 80 and made good use of the true pace and bounce, but their side didn't have the stamina to finish big. Hong Kong will look to make the most of this and take the momentum from that final over into their chase. Join us soon for what should be a thrilling second half.

A battling display from both sides has set this match up as Nepal began strongly but Hong Kong pinned them back in the final stages, picking up four wickets in four balls in the last over.

Hong Kong requires 150 runs to win

Innings Break
Over 20 (9 runs, 4 wickets) NEP 149/8
B Regmi*     0* (0)

Wicket! Would you believe it, four wicket in four balls! Gauchan hits it virtually straight back to Amjad who fields the ball cleanly and turns to toss it into the non-striker's end for the run out!
19.6
H Amjad to S Gauchan, WICKET!!! S Gauchan is out run out (Haseeb Amjad)

Wicket! It's a team hat-trick as Budayair steps across his stumps to sweep but is undone by the pace and loses his off stump!
19.5
H Amjad to N Budayair, WICKET!!! N Budayair is out b Haseeb Amjad

Wicket! Vesawkar tries to scamper through for the run but the throw is whipped into Atkinson who does the rest!
19.4
H Amjad to S Vesawkar, WICKET!!! S Vesawkar is out run out (Aizaz Khan)

Wicket! There will be no half-century for Gyanendra Malla as he mis-times the pull shot and loops the ball back to Haseeb Amjad who runs forward to take the catch. A very useful innings nevertheless!
19.3
H Amjad to G Malla, WICKET!!! G Malla is out c & b Haseeb Amjad

Six! Malla goes after the full toss and blasts it high over mid-wicket for the first six of the match!
19.2
H Amjad to G Malla, 102.7 km/h short length on off stump. He picks up two through mid-wicket
19.1
H Amjad to G Malla, 127.7 km/h full toss going down leg. He hits a great shot, that has gone all the way straight down the ground
Over 19 (11 runs) NEP 140/4
S Vesawkar     13* (8)
G Malla*     42* (39)

Four! It's consecutive boundaries as Vesawkar leans back to open the bat and crashes the ball behind point.

Four! Vesawkar doesn't time it fully but gets enough on the shot to hit over cover and the ball bobbles to the fence.
Over 19 (11 runs) NEP 140/4
S Vesawkar     13* (8)
G Malla*     40* (38)

18.6
I Ahmed to S Vesawkar, 139.4 km/h full length outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary through the covers
18.5
I Ahmed to S Vesawkar, 132.2 km/h full length just outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary backward of square on the off side

Close! The throw is fired in from mid off but it's wayward and a direct hit would have done it.
18.4
I Ahmed to S Vesawkar, no run, 139.2 km/h full length outside off stump. He plays and misses
18.3
I Ahmed to G Malla, 100.2 km/h short length outside off stump. He picks up a single through the covers
18.2
I Ahmed to S Vesawkar, 134.9 km/h full toss just outside off stump. He picks up a single straight down the ground
18.1
I Ahmed to G Malla, 133.3 km/h full length on off stump. He picks up a single

Irfan Ahmed comes on for the penultimate over.
18.1
I Ahmed to G Malla, 133.3 km/h full length on middle stump. He defends
Over 18 (5 runs, 1 wicket) NEP 129/4
S Vesawkar     4* (4)
G Malla*     38* (36)

17.6
N Ahmed to S Vesawkar, no run, 76.8 km/h good length just outside off stump. He defends

The man in the deep races round and dives in time to cut off the four.
17.5
N Ahmed to S Vesawkar, 96.2 km/h full toss on off stump. He picks up two straight down the ground
17.4
N Ahmed to S Vesawkar, 96.3 km/h full toss on off stump. He picks up two straight down the ground
17.3
N Ahmed to S Vesawkar, no run, 83.4 km/h good length going down leg. He defends
17.2
N Ahmed to G Malla, 90.4 km/h full length on leg stump. He picks up a single

Wicket! Bhandari hacks at the pitched up delivery and sends the ball spiraling out to long on. Two men go for it but they manage to sort it out in the end and Waqas Barkat holds on!
17.2
N Ahmed to G Malla, 90.4 km/h full length on leg stump. He picks up a single backward of square on the leg side
17.1
N Ahmed to B Bhandari, WICKET!!! B Bhandari is out c Waqas Barkat b Nadeem Ahmed
Over 17 (10 runs, 1 wicket) NEP 124/3
B Bhandari*     1* (1)
G Malla     37* (35)

16.6
N Amar to B Bhandari, 77.4 km/h good length on middle stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
16.5
N Amar to G Malla, 83.2 km/h short length outside off stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket

Four! A premeditated sweep is played to perfection by Malla and he chalks up his fourth boundary.
16.4
N Amar to G Malla, 106.2 km/h good length on off stump. He hits a nice boundary backward of square on the leg side

Close! Nepal continues to swing as Malla swipes across the line and the ball skies just inches wide of Amar.
16.3
N Amar to G Malla, 85.5 km/h good length just outside off stump. He picks up two through mid-wicket

Wicket! Khadka's luck is all used up as he tries to go big again but this time picks out long off.
16.2
N Amar to P Khadka, WICKET!!! P Khadka is out c Nizakat Khan b Najeeb Amar

Dropped! A mis-timed shot over top flies into the air but the man in the deep cannot take the catch over his shoulder.
16.1
N Amar to P Khadka, 79.0 km/h good length just outside off stump. He picks up two straight down the ground

Four overs remain and Nepal will look to tee off.
Over 16 (6 runs) NEP 114/2
P Khadka*     39* (35)
G Malla     30* (32)

15.6
H Amjad to P Khadka, 1 leg bye
15.5
H Amjad to G Malla, 123.7 km/h full toss just outside off stump. He picks up a single straight down the ground
15.4
H Amjad to P Khadka, 134.5 km/h full length on off stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
15.3
H Amjad to P Khadka, 125.1 km/h short length just outside off stump. He picks up two through mid-wicket
15.2
H Amjad to P Khadka, no run, 123.6 km/h full length on middle stump. He defends
15.1
H Amjad to G Malla, 113.4 km/h short length just outside off stump. He picks up a single straight down the ground
Over 15 (14 runs) NEP 108/2
G Malla*     28* (30)
P Khadka     36* (31)

14.6
I Ahmed to G Malla, 132.2 km/h full length outside off stump. He picks up a single through the covers

A top edge skies out to third man but lands safely in front of him.

Four! Malla continues to hit cleanly as he slaps the wide delivery over mid-wicket and the ball tears away.
14.5
I Ahmed to G Malla, 134.5 km/h short length outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary straight down the ground
14.4
I Ahmed to G Malla, 133.6 km/h good length on middle stump. He picks up two backward of square on the off side

Four! Nepal brings up its 100 as Malla goes up and over cover for four.

The throw misses and Nepal grabs an extra run.
14.3
I Ahmed to G Malla, 135.1 km/h good length outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary straight down the ground
14.2
I Ahmed to G Malla, 135.8 km/h short length outside off stump. He picks up two straight down the ground
14.1
I Ahmed to G Malla, no run, 135.0 km/h short length just outside off stump. Straight to the fielder

It's sprayed way outside off stump and the eighth wide of the innings is given.
14.1
I Ahmed to G Malla, no run, 135.0 km/h short length just outside off stump. He defends
14.1
I Ahmed to G Malla, Wide delivery
Over 14 (7 runs) NEP 94/2
P Khadka     36* (31)
G Malla*     15* (24)

13.6
N Ahmed to P Khadka, no run, 82.8 km/h good length outside off stump. He plays and misses

Four! Khadka meets the ball with the fall face of the bat and cracks it past long off for four.
13.5
N Ahmed to P Khadka, 98.4 km/h good length on off stump. He hits a nice boundary straight down the ground
13.4
N Ahmed to G Malla, 78.9 km/h good length outside off stump. He picks up a single down to fine leg
13.3
N Ahmed to P Khadka, 102.8 km/h good length on leg stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
13.2
N Ahmed to G Malla, 77.7 km/h short length going down leg. He picks up a single through the covers
13.1
N Ahmed to G Malla, no run, 85.4 km/h short length going down leg. He plays and misses
Over 13 (11 runs) NEP 87/2
P Khadka     31* (28)
G Malla*     13* (21)

Four! Khadka hoiks it through the leg side and a misfield in the deep sees the ball wriggle through to the ropes to bring up the 50 partnership.
12.6
A Khan to P Khadka, 127.0 km/h full length outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary straight down the ground
12.5
A Khan to G Malla, 110.2 km/h short length outside off stump. He picks up a single straight down the ground
12.4
A Khan to G Malla, no run, 132.9 km/h full toss outside off stump. He defends
12.3
A Khan to G Malla, no run, 125.7 km/h good length just outside off stump. He plays and misses
12.3
A Khan to G Malla, Wide delivery

Four! Malla opens up to whip the full delivery through mid-wicket for four to take the partnership to 45.
12.2
A Khan to G Malla, 127.6 km/h full length on middle stump. He hits a nice boundary through mid-wicket
12.1
A Khan to P Khadka, 124.9 km/h good length just outside off stump. He picks up a single through the covers

Aziz Khan returns to the attack.
Over 12 (6 runs) NEP 76/2
P Khadka*     26* (26)
G Malla     8* (17)

11.6
N Ahmed to P Khadka. He picks up a single straight down the ground
11.5
N Ahmed to G Malla, 82.4 km/h good length going down leg. He picks up a single through the covers
11.4
N Ahmed to P Khadka, 83.7 km/h good length going down leg. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
11.3
N Ahmed to P Khadka, 87.8 km/h good length on leg stump. He picks up two through mid-wicket
11.2
N Ahmed to G Malla, 75.1 km/h short length outside off stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
11.1
N Ahmed to G Malla, no run. He plays and misses
Over 11 (10 runs) NEP 70/2
P Khadka     22* (23)
G Malla*     6* (14)

Dropped! Paras Khadka doesn't read the slower one and lofts the ball straight out to long but the man doesn't set himself and the chance goes down!
10.6
N Amar to P Khadka, no run, 90.3 km/h short length on middle stump. He defends
10.5
N Amar to P Khadka, 79.9 km/h short length on off stump. He picks up two straight down the ground

Four! Khadka frees his arms and smashes the wide delivery through the covers.
10.4
N Amar to P Khadka. He hits a nice boundary straight down the ground
10.3
N Amar to G Malla, 89.0 km/h short length just outside off stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket

Hong Kong goes up for the lbw but the ball has come off the elbow first.
10.2
N Amar to P Khadka, 1 leg bye

Najeeb Amar tries it from the other end.
10.1
N Amar to P Khadka, 90.4 km/h short length on middle stump. He picks up two through mid-wicket

Wicket! Sagar Pun falls as he tries to go aerial but hits the shot flat and picks out Haseeb Amjad at mid off who takes a diving catch!
4.4
H Amjad to S Pun, WICKET!!! S Pun is out c Waqas Barkat b Haseeb Amjad
4.3
H Amjad to S Kakurel, 123.1 km/h good length on off stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
4.3
H Amjad to S Kakurel, Wide delivery
4.2
H Amjad to S Kakurel, no run, 126.9 km/h short length outside off stump. He plays and misses

Four! Kaukrel swivels to banish the short ball over mid-wicket and Nepal continues to tick.
4.1
H Amjad to S Kakurel, 122.3 km/h short length outside off stump. He hits a nice boundary through mid-wicket
Over 4 (10 runs) NEP 30/0
S Pun     13* (12)
S Kakurel*     17* (12)

3.6
N Amar to S Pun, no run, 106.0 km/h full length going down leg. Straight to the fielder
3.5
N Amar to S Pun, no run, 80.5 km/h good length just outside off stump. He goes hard at the ball, but straight to the fielder

Four! The runs continue to flow for Nepal as Kakurel lifts the ball over cover and down to the fence.
3.4
N Amar to S Pun, 93.8 km/h good length on off stump. He hits a nice boundary straight down the ground
3.3
N Amar to S Kakurel. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
3.2
N Amar to S Pun. He picks up a single

Four! It's dropped short and Pun comes down the track to crash the ball down to the long on boundary.
3.2
N Amar to S Pun. He picks up a single down to 3rd man
3.1
N Amar to S Pun, 93.3 km/h good length on off stump. He hits a nice boundary straight down the ground

Debutant Najeeb Amar comes on.
Over 3 (7 runs) NEP 20/0
S Kakurel     16* (11)
S Pun*     4* (7)

2.6
T Afzal to S Kakurel, no run, 120.2 km/h good length on off stump. He defends

Four! Afzal throws it down short and wide and Kakurel pulls sweetly behind square leg for four.
2.5
T Afzal to S Kakurel, 125.9 km/h short length on middle stump. He hits a nice boundary down to fine leg
2.4
T Afzal to S Pun, 122.6 km/h short length on leg stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
2.3
T Afzal to S Kakurel, 123.5 km/h short length on off stump. He picks up a single through mid-wicket
2.2
T Afzal to S Pun, 125.7 km/h good length just outside off stump. He picks up a single backward of square on the off side
2.1
T Afzal to S Pun, no run, 121.9 km/h good length just outside off stump. He plays and misses
Over 2 (5 runs) NEP 13/0
S Kakurel     11* (8)
S Pun*     2* (4)

Four! Kakurel whisks the ball off the stumps and away through mid-wicket for four.
Over 2 (5 runs) NEP 13/0
S Kakurel     11* (8)
S Pun*     2* (4)

1.6
H Amjad to S Kakurel. He hits a nice boundary through mid-wicket
1.5
H Amjad to S Kakurel, no run, 129.1 km/h good length just outside off stump. He plays and misses

A sharp bit of work at mid off almost brings a run out but the pair return home just in time.
1.4
H Amjad to S Kakurel, no run, 132.2 km/h good length just outside off stump. He defends
1.3
H Amjad to S Kakurel, no run, 130.5 km/h full length outside off stump. He can't get that one off the square
1.2
H Amjad to S Pun, 130.5 km/h full length just outside off stump. He picks up a single down to 3rd man
1.1
H Amjad to S Pun, no run, 123.7 km/h good length just outside off stump. He defends

Haseeb Amjad shares the opening overs.
Over 1 (8 runs) NEP 8/0
S Kakurel     7* (4)
S Pun*     1* (2)

0.6
T Afzal to S Kakurel, no run, 125.3 km/h good length on off stump. He defends

Four! A wonderfully timed on drive from Pun brings the first boundary of the match.
0.5
T Afzal to S Kakurel, 128.5 km/h full length on off stump. He hits a nice boundary straight down the ground
0.4
T Afzal to S Kakurel, no run. He plays and misses
0.3
T Afzal to S Pun. He defends

One slip is in. The wicket is looking quite green.
0.2
T Afzal to S Pun, no run, 127.2 km/h good length on off stump. He defends
0.1
T Afzal to S Kakurel, 131.7 km/h full length on leg stump. He comes through for three through mid-wicket

It's time to kick off the second match of the opening day of WT20. Subash Kakurel and Sagar Pun will bat up top for Nepal. Tanwir Afzal will bowl the first over.

The teams step out for the anthems on a dry evening here in Chittagong.

Nepal's captain Paras Khadka thinks that the wicket shouldn't change much over the forty overs and his side are focused on amassing a big score.

At the toss, Hong Kong captain Jaime Atkinson said he chose to bowl because his side have had some good wins batting or bowling first, but they fancy chasing this evening.

Nepal: Kakurel (wk), Pun, Malla, Khadka*, Bhandari, Vesawkar, Budayair, Regmi, Gauchan, Kami, Mukhiya

Hong Kong: Barkat, I Ahmed, Atkinson* (wk), Hayat, Chapman, N Khan, Afzal, A Khan, Amar, Amjad, N Ahmed

Toss: Hong Kong wins the toss and fields

Preview: A day before the start of the ICC World Twenty20 2014, already heralded as a blockbuster by ubiquitous hoardings that welcome you at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, a contrast unique to global tournaments of this kind unfolded. In Dhaka, a flurry of interviews and press conferences lifted the curtain, with the superstars of this blockbuster taking centre stage. Players from India, Pakistan and New Zealand fronted up, even as the hosts underwent its final practice session ahead of the first match, a game in which Bangladesh will hope to spark the tournament to life with a win over Afghanistan, who beat it recently in the Asia Cup.

While Dhaka enjoyed its time as the centre of the cricketing universe, the south-eastern port city of Chottogram, better known to the Western world as Chittagong, placidly prepared for its own start of the tournament. While little or no marketing material shouts out loud about the Nepal-Hong Kong match at the Zahur Ahmed Choudhury Stadium that will follow the tournament opener on Sunday (March 16), the match will be a huge one for the two teams in question.

Cricket has been played in Hong Kong since 1866, shortly after the British introduced the game to a predominantly Chinese island. Nepal, relative newcomers to the game, having first taken up the willow up in the Himalayas in 1996, has more to prove.

Leading the Nepal brigade is Paras Khadka, who dominated the qualifying tournament with both bat and ball. “I think we are here to present Nepal cricket in front of the whole world,” said Khadka upon arrival in Bangladesh. Nepal, who lost its warm-up matches to Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, has no choice but to come hard at the opposition in the first round. “It is a great opportunity for us. It is not like we have only qualified for this tournament and worked for three months. We have been playing for ten to 12 years with hard work and playing continuous cricket. We are here to compete and play to the best of our ability. If we play to our potential, things should be good for us.”

Nepal’s enemy is its own inexperience, not merely in terms of the age of its players — none of them has yet celebrated his 30th birthday – but also in terms of appearance in major events. Having risen to the top of the qualifiers in UAE late last year, the ICC World T20 2014 is Nepal’s first appearance at a global tournament.

If there is one similarity between Nepal, a landlocked mountain kingdom, and Hong Kong, a cosmopolitan island enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and the South China Sea, it is the place cricket holds in the minds of the public. Although the enthusiasm for the game is undeniable among those who play it against all odds, the sport struggles to hold its own against football in both countries. Hong Kong’s players have long lamented the lack of media attention to cricket back home, and this tournament provides a chance to focus the spotlight on the game.

While Nepal have chosen to empower youth in their campaign, Hong Kong have taken the road of pragmatism, recalling two veterans in Munir Dar (41) and Najeeb Amar (42), while still retaining a core of youngsters.

Dar, who is expected to play a pivotal role with the bat, cannot bowl because of problems with his action, but this is where Najeeb comes in, with his canny left-arm spin. It will be interesting to see if Kinchit Shah, who recently turned 18, gets picked to bowl his offbreaks alongside Najeeb, for the age gap between the two – a staggering 24 years – gives fresh meaning to the cricketing cliché of blending youth and experience.

Hong Kong goes into its match against Nepal on a high, having stunned much stronger Zimbabwe and Netherlands teams in its warm-up matches.

Even as the game’s superpowers polish strategies and prime its stars, a desperate struggle is set to unfold in Chittagong. For Nepal and Hong Kong, a rare chance beckons to put their respective countries on the cricketing world map.

Welcome to the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong, for Match 2 of ICC World Twenty20 2014 between Hong Kong and Nepal


ट्वान्टी २० विश्वकप क्रिकेटमा नेपालको यात्रा वास्तविक सपना, सफलता र ऐतिहासिक क्षण

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नेपालले आफ्नो अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय क्रिकेट इतिहासको १८ वर्षपछि आइतबार बंगलादेशको चित्तागोङस्थित जाहुर अहमद चौधरी स्टेडियममा ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप क्रिकेट खेल्दैछ ।

नेपालका लागि अहिलेसम्मको ठूलो सफलता हो, ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप क्रिकेट खेल्नु । यही प्रतियोगिताले नेपाललाई विश्वसामु चिनाउने अवसर समेत जुराउने छ ।

ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप क्रिकेट माथिल्लो स्तरका राष्ट्रले  खेल्ने क्रिकेट हो र यसको सफलता नेपाललाई छोटो खेल इतिहासमै जुरेको छ । अर्को अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय क्रिकेट ‘एकदिवसीय क्रिकेट’को नजिक पुगे पनि नेपाल त्यसका लागि छनोट हुन असफल भएको थियो ।

आइतबार नेपालले  चिरप्रतिद्वन्दी हङकसँग खेल्दैछ र नेपालको परीक्षा त्यही खेलबाट सुरु हुनेछ । गएको नोभेम्बरमा युएईमा भएको ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप छनोटको प्लेअपमा नेपालले हङकङलाई नै पराजीत गर्दै ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप क्रिकेटको यात्रा तय गरेको थियो । आइतबारको खेलमा नेपालले त्यही खेललाई निरन्तरता दिँदै विश्वकप यात्रालाई अझ मजबुद बनाउन प्रयास गर्ने छ ।

तर, गएको जनवरीमा नै भएको एक दिवसीय विश्वकप क्रिकेटको छनोटमा हङकङले नेपालललाई १० विकेटले पराजित गरेको थियो । नेपाललाई पराजित गर्दै हङकङले एकदिवसीय अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय क्रिकेटको मान्यता पाइसकेको छ । पछिल्लो समय हङकङले सुधारिएको प्रदर्शन गर्दै आइरहेको छ भने नेपालको खेलको स्तर केही खस्किएको छ ।

विश्वकपको ६ वर्षे यात्रा

ट्वान्टी-ट्वान्टी क्रिकेट प्रतियोगिता खेल्न थालेको ६ वर्षपछि नै नेपाल विश्वकप क्रिकेटमा छनोट हुन सफल भएको हो । सन् २००७ मा कुवेतमा भएको एसीसी ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी कपबाट नेपालले औपचारिकरुपमा ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी क्रिकेट खेल्न थालेको हो । त्यसपछि सन् २००९ मा युईमा भएको एसीसी ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी कपमा पनि नेपालले सहभागिता जनाएको थियो । तर, त्यतिवेला पनि नेपालले अपेक्षा गरेअनुसारको प्रदर्शन गर्न नसक्दा समूह चरण नै पार गर्न सकेन ।

नेपालले सन् २००९ को एसीसी ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टीमा मलेसिया, युएई, ओमानसँग पराजित भएको थियो । नेपालका लागि ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप क्रिकेट प्रवेश गर्न पनि एसीसी ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी कपमा फड्को मार्नु आवश्यक थियो ।

सन् २०११ मा नेपालले एक अर्थमा त्यो फड्को मार्‍यो । नेपालको त्रिभुवन विश्वविद्यलायको मैदानमा भएको खेलामा नेपाल सेमिफाइनल पुग्यो । त्यतिवेला नेपाल युएईलाई पछि पार्दै सेमिफाइनल पुग्यो र त्योसँगै ट्वान्टी-ट्वान्टी विश्वकपका लागि छनोट भयो ।

त्यसपछि नेपाललाई अर्को चुनौती थियो एसीसी ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी क्रिकेटकै । सन् २०१३ मा पुन काठमाडौमै भएको एसीसी ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी कप क्रिकेटमा पनि नेपालले अझ सुधारिएको प्रदर्शन गर्‍यो । युएईलाई पराजित गर्दै नेपाल चौथो प्रयासमा सन् २०१३ मा एसीसी ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी कप क्रिकेटको फाइनलमा पुग्यो ।

तर फाइनलमा भने नेपालले अफगानिस्तानसँग हार व्यहोर्दै दोस्रो स्थानमै चित्त बुझाउन पुग्यो । एकपछि अर्को सफलता हात पार्दै आएको नेपालले ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप छनोट क्रिकेट खेल्न युएई पुग्यो । नेदरल्याण्ड्स, स्कटल्याड्स, केन्या, पपुवा न्युगिनी, बर्मुडा, डेनमार्क, अफगानिस्तानजस्ता बलिया टोलीसँग खेल्नु पर्ने र विश्वकप क्रिकेटका लागि बाटो खुलाउन सहज थिएन नेपाललाई ।

नेपालले अफगानिस्तान, नेदरल्याण्ड्स र स्कटल्याण्डविरुद्धको खेलमात्रै गुमायो अन्य खेलमा जीत हात पार्‍यो ।  नेपालले त्यसबेला प्लेअपमा हङकङलाई नै हराउँदै ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी क्रिकेटका लागि छनोट भएको हो ।

तेस्रो एसीसी ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी क्रिकेट कप अघि नेपाली टोली सम्हाल्न आएको हुन्  श्रीलंकाली मुलका क्यानेडेली प्रशिक्षक पुबुदु दसानायके । उनी प्रशिक्षक भएर नेपाल आएपछि नेपालले क्रिकेटमा राम्रो प्रगति गरिरहेको छ ।

सपना सार्थक बनाउने मौका

बंगलादेशको चित्तागोङस्थित जाहुर अहमद चौधरी स्टेडियममा आइतबार साँझ सवा ७ बजे सुरु हुने विश्वकप क्रिकेटमा नेपालले हङकङसँग प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्दैछ । नेपालले आफ्नो पहिलो खेलमा जीत हात पार्दै अघि बढ्ने योजनाका साथ मैदान उत्रिदैछ ।

ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी क्रिकेट प्रतियोगिता खेल्न थालेको ६ वर्षपछि पाएको यो उच्च सफलतालाई कायम राख्न नेपाली टोलीलाई बंगलादेशलगायत देश बाहिर रहेका नेपालीहरु तथा नेपालमै रहेका नेपालीहरुको बलियो साथ छ ।

सारा नेपालीले प्रतिक्षा गरेको त्यो सुनौलो दिन, सुनौलो प्रतियोगिता हो यो ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप क्रिकेट । कप्तान पारस खड्का टसका लागि मैदान प्रवेश गरेसँगै नेपाल ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप क्रिकेट खेल्ने १७ औँ राष्ट्र बन्ने छ ।

यसपटकको विश्वकप क्रिकेटमा १६ टोलीको सहभागिता रहेको छ भने ८ देशले प्रारम्भीक चरण खेल्दैछन् । नेपाल, बंगलादेशसँगै अफगानिस्तान र हङकङ रहेको समूह ए मा छ भने समूह बीमा युएई, नेदरल्याण्ड्स, जिम्बाबे र आयरल्याण्ड छन् ।

एक दिवसीय क्रिकेटमा प्रवेश गर्न असफल भएको पीडा नेपाली टोली र नेपालसँग छ । त्यो पीडालाई बिर्साउने पनि यो मौका हुनेछ । एक दिवसीय क्रिकेटका लागि भएको छनोट खेलमा खराब प्रदर्शनका पछाडि प्रमुख खेलाडी चोटमुक्त हुन नसक्नु नै थियो ।

नेपालले ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप क्रिकेट प्रतियोगिताका लागि मैदान उत्रिनुअघि बंगलादेशमा खेलेका अभ्यास खेलमा युएई र आयरल्याण्डसँग पराजित भएको थियो ।

यही पराजयलाई हौसलामा बदल्दै ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकप क्रिकेटमा सुधारिएको प्रदर्शन गर्दै विजयी हात पार्दै अन्तराष्ट्रिय क्रिकेटमा नेपाललाई चिनाउने अवसर हुनेछ ।   बंगलादेशमामा जित हात पार्दै अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय प्रतियोगितामा प्रवेश गर्न सके नेपाली क्रिकेटका लागि ठूलो सफलता हुनेछ ।

Nepal, Hong Kong enter brand new world

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The last time anyone counted, 36.45% of Nepal’s 27 million citizens had a television at home. There might be good reason to update that 2011 census in a couple of weeks, as the most recent addition to the list of cricket-crazy countries takes in the experience having the exploits of their stars beamed into their living rooms.

For most international cricketers, playing in front of cameras is second nature. Over the years, the demand for cricket on television in traditional markets – England, India, Australia and beyond – has grown so rapidly that it is unthinkable that one of these teams could be involved in a game that was not televised. For the likes of Nepal and Hong Kong, nothing could be further from the truth.

For the best part of their careers, players from associate nations go about their work in relative anonymity. The arrival of the Internet, and the subsequent ease of access to the web through mobile phones, has been a game changer in many ways, allowing the man on the street in Nepal or Hong Kong to follow his team even when they were playing in a qualifying tournament in Bermuda or Abu Dhabi. But it’s one thing to be able to read a score, and another entirely to actually see for yourself how your team is playing.

“It’s massive for us, we haven’t had the opportunity that many times in the past to play in front of the television cameras. I know the lads would like to take that opportunity, when we have [played in televised matches] in the past, people tend to raise their game because they realise how many people are watching,” said Jamie Atkinson, captain of the Hong Kong team. “It’s a massive opportunity to put themselves in the shop window. I know a lot of the associate players, in this tournament, are thinking a couple of good performances individually can put themselves on the world map as well and try to get their careers furthered."

For Paras Khadka, the articulate captain of the Nepal team, the situation was no different. “People back home are very excited because it will be a new experience for most of them. People are used to following us on the Internet, through social media and ball-by-ball commentary. But this will be a chance to watch the boys live in action,” he said. “Every time I log on to my Facebook or Twitter page, there are messages from people saying we need to do well, encouraging us despite the losses in the last two matches.”

The Nepal team enjoys a spirited following online, and the excitement back home has just about reached fever pitch as the team embarks on its first adventure at the global level. “From the time we qualified it’s been like a festival back home. It’s been crazy. Everybody is excited, and for us, as players, it’s a great opportunity for all the players to make a name for yourself, make a name for your country,” said Khadka. “We will do whatever we can to try and win as many games as possible. We will try and push for a better result every time we play.”

While there has been significant interest in the Nepal media over their team’s progress – as many as 14 journalists from the country are over in Chittagong shadowing their team – Hong Kong’s players have not always enjoyed the kind of support they would have liked. Atkinson knows what needs to be done for that to change. “If you look at most sports around the world and in countries where a particular sport is popular, it is usually due to success of the team. If we keep having success, particularly on this world stage, it’s definitely going to raise the profile back in Hong Kong,” said Atkinson.

“So, success is key, I think over the next couple of games we have, in this group stage, it’s vital that we put up some good performances and show the rest of Hong Kong, the rest of the world how good we are. The games will be broadcast across the world so people can actually see the standard of cricket that’s being played at the moment by the associates. I think over the last couple of games people are realising that the gap [between associates and Test nations] is beginning to close.”

Matches in Nepal have drawn crowds of close to 15,000, so the presence of a crowd would not necessarily put Khadka’s men off their game, but he did acknowledge that the games over the next week would be significantly different from anything they had experienced in the past in at least two ways. “Playing in front of big crowds is something we are used to, but the day-night structure is a bit different. Also, this will be different because it’s a global audience,” said Khadka, whose team played a couple of warm-up matches under lights in Dubai to get used to the day-night experience.

Khadka, who described Nepal’s fan following as being “just like a Test nation’s”, more than once underscored the need for his team-mates to remind themselves not to get too caught up in the hype. “As players, we are excited, but we need to control our emotions as well. We need to play the cricket we have learnt, not go overboard,” he pointed out. “People have always had high hopes and expectations. Right now cricket in Nepal is in very good shape in terms of support, the government, people committing to game, the corporate sector getting involved … but as players we can’t think about the crowd or what people are saying back home. You just have to go out there and play it as a game of cricket, and make sure you do what you have to, to make your country win.”

That will be easier said than done, given that the ICC World Twenty20 2014 is set to break all cricket broadcasting records, with an estimated 1.8 billion viewers expected to take in the action via 29 broadcast partners.

When the lights come on at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Sunday, even before a ball is bowled, Nepal and Hong Kong would have taken giant strides in popularising the game back home. And, for the winner, life could change forever.

Irfan Ahmed, Khadka in focus ahead of Hong Kong's clash against Nepal

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Paras Khadka needs 14 runs to become the first player to hit 500 T20 runs for Nepal.

 A look at the numbers from the clash between Nepal and Hong Kong in the ICC World Twenty20 2014
Both Nepal and Hong Kong, who finished third and fifth in ICC World Twenty20 qualifier 2013 in UAE, will clash against each other on the opening day of the ICC World T20 2014 in Bangladesh on Friday (March 16). We take a look at some of the key battles, approaching milestones and a few facts.

Some Facts

Nepal has won both previous Twenty20 meetings between these teams, at the 2012 and 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier tournaments.

In the first of those matches Paras Khadka hit what is still the highest score for Nepal in T20 matches – 68 from 62 balls.

That match also contained the third-best figures for Nepal in T20 matches – Chandra Sawad’s 4-24 from four overs.

The most recent meeting, in the qualifying tournament for this event, saw Nepal win off the final ball of the match.

Irfan Ahmed has recorded the two highest scores for Hong Kong in T20 matches (100 against Canada in November 2013 and 91 not out against Denmark in March 2012).

Approaching Milestones:

Khadka needs 14 runs to become the first player to hit 500 T20 runs for Nepal.

Four players (Khadka, Gyanendra Malla, Basanta Regmi and Sharad Vesawkar) are in line to become the first players to represent Nepal 20 times in T20s.

Key Battles: Hong Kong v Nepal – Irfan Ahmed vs. Paras Khadka

Both the all-rounders are in excellent form. Irfan opens the batting for Hong Kong, but it is his bowling that has recently stood out. He has taken nine wickets in four matches in the lead-up to this tournament, with his brand of fast-medium proving hard to get away – he did not concede more than seven runs per over in any of these four matches.

Irfan hit one of the four centuries that were recorded at the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament, although he struggled in his other innings – 100 of his 197 runs came in this one innings.

Khadka got the battle of this head-to-head when these teams met at the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. The Nepal skipper hit 46 from 39 balls to help seal his team’s five-wicket victory.

Khadka enjoys playing against Hong Kong – he hit 68 on the other occasion they have faced each other – and Nepal’s hopes of progression in this event depend heavily on their captain and star player.

Nepal VS Hong Kong 2014 ICC World t-20 Live Match Update

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World Cup, the dream of Every Nepali Citizens is just some steps ahead. Almost after two hours World Cup 2014 is officially being launched in Bangladesh.This is first World Cup for Nepal so all the Nepali Players are eager to play on the field and all the Nepali Citizens are too eager to watch them live or on Screen. Nepal Match is About to start at 7:15 pm according to Nepali Time.You can have all Live Match Score Update here.=>Watch Score LIVE

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ICC World t-20 Bangladesh 2014 First look

Posted by Unknown | Saturday, March 15, 2014 | Posted in , ,



Television coverage of the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 is set to break all previous ICC events’ broadcast records.

That coverage, produced and distributed by the ICC’s global media rights partner and host broadcaster, Star Sports, will have a potential reach of more than 1.8 billion viewers with live pictures shown by 29 broadcasters – both figures the highest ever for an ICC event.

Click the Link Below to Find Out World Cup LIVE Update

And it will be shown in more than 20 languages with pictures going across Europe via Eurosport and as far afield as Norway, Nepal, Afghanistan and the Pacific Islands.

The production will be among the most sophisticated ever too, with 28 cameras, including seven ultra-motion cameras, Spidercam as well as graphics with key analytics, all of which will take the viewer right to the heart of the action.

All 35 matches in the men’s tournament, plus all four of the warm-up matches in Mirpur, will be covered, as well as both semi-finals and the final of the women’s event.

The complete list of broadcasters can be found here.

And a host of legends of the game and experienced broadcasters will be on hand, with Ravi Shastri, Sanjay Manjrekar, Shaun Pollock, Ian Bishop, Sourav Ganguly, Shane Warne, Rameez Raja, Wasim Akram, Russel Arnold, Nick Knight, Nasser Hussain, Harsha Bhogle, Jonty Rhodes, Pommie Mbangwa, Athar Ali Khan, Danny Morrison, Alan Wilkins, Brian Murgatroyd, Isa Guha, Alison Mitchell and Melanie Jones on hand to analyse every moment.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “We are delighted that more than a quarter of the world’s population will have access to live coverage from the World Twenty20 2014, thanks to ICC’s broadcast partners.

“In addition to the expanded broadcast footprint, an enhanced production coverage and a world-class commentary team will provide for an excellent viewing experience for fans across the world.”

Nitin Kukreja of Star Sports, said: “We are excited to bring to global cricket fans the fifth edition of the ICC World Twenty20. We remain committed to ever-enriching the viewing experience. This year’s edition will include innovations like LED stumps, increased focus on analytics and contextual graphics. The broadcast will go to 223 territories across the globe and will also be available on starsports.com in certain countries.”

There will also be extensive radio coverage of the ICC World Twenty20. In Bangladesh, coverage will be provided by Betar Bangladesh and Radio Bhoomi. Outside of host country, the event will have radio coverage from Channel 2 (Middle East & North America), All India Radio (India) BBC (UK), SABC (South Africa), Sport Radio (New Zealand), 107 FM (Pakistan), Voice of Asia (Sri Lanka), Klass (Jamaica) and GML Radio (Trinidad). Channel 2 will also do live commentary on the internet via Cricket Radio.

The list of radio broadcasters can be found here.

The ICC has also tied up with news access agencies SNTV, Perform and Thomson Reuters to provide news broadcasters around the world with 90-second match highlights, subject to these highlights being used in bonafide news programmes within 24 hours of end of the relevant match, for editorial purposes only.
Watch Nepal vs Hong Kong Live Live nepal vs Hong Kong, Nepal vs Hong Kong Update Sore Live Update,Live ScoreBoard World Cup t20 Live Action Nepal vs Hong Kong, Nepal vs Live Match Update Online

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