Ishan Pandey's 90 in vain as Nepal fall 15 runs short against Hong Kong

Ishan Pandey struck 90 from 106 balls, but Nepal were bowled out for 246 in 49.1 overs to suffer a 15-run defeat against Hong Kong in their final Group A match of the ACC Men’s Premier Cup.

Earlier, Babar Hayat struck an unbeaten 117 as Hong Kong recovered from 133/7 to post 261/7. Read the first-innings report.

Chasing 262 at the Bayuemas Cricket Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Nepal reached 44 before Arjun Kumal was dismissed for 14. Aasif Sheikh scored 44 from 50 balls, hitting six fours and a six, but Nepal slipped from 69/1 to 88/4 following the dismissals of Sheikh, Dev Khanal and Rohit Paudel.

Pandey held the innings together and added 54 with Dipendra Singh Airee, who made 25, before putting on 49 with Gulsan Jha. Jha scored 20 from 22 balls but fell with Nepal still requiring 71 runs from the final seven overs.

Karan KC revived Nepal's hopes by hitting two sixes in a rapid 21 from 13 balls. His dismissal at 231/7 was followed by the run-out of captain Sandeep Lamichhane for two.

Pandey was dismissed for 90 with Nepal requiring 21 from nine balls. Sher Malla struck a boundary in an unbeaten five, but Nasrulla Rana trapped Lalit Rajbanshi lbw from the first ball of the final over to complete Hong Kong's victory.

Aizaz Khan finished with 4/50, while Yasim Murtaza claimed 2/33. The result ended Nepal’s three-match winning run in the group stage.