Nepal opened their Asian Games men’s cricket campaign with a five-wicket victory over Afghanistan on Friday, while Hong Kong, China kept their quarter-final hopes alive with a 41-run win against Oman.
Afghanistan, who had beaten Japan in their opening match, struggled after choosing to bat first against Nepal. Their top three batters were dismissed for single figures, leaving the side in trouble at 16-3.
Faisal Shinozada and Najibullah Zadran attempted to rebuild the innings with a 39-run partnership. Shinozada scored 30 from 33 balls, but his dismissal was followed by another collapse as Afghanistan fell from 55-4 to 65-6.
Zadran also made 30, while Nangeyalia Kharote contributed 17 before Afghanistan were bowled out for 102.
Nepal’s Lalit Rajbanshi produced an impressive opening spell, taking 3-13 and striking in each of his first three overs. Kushal Bhurtel then claimed 4-21, narrowly missing out on a hat-trick.
Nepal encountered early trouble in reply at 12-2, but captain Rohit Paudel and Sundeep Jora put the chase back on course. Jora scored 34, while Paudel remained unbeaten on 33 as Nepal completed a comfortable five-wicket victory.
Nepal will next face Japan on September 26 with a quarter-final place at stake.
Elsewhere in Group B, Hong Kong, China recovered from their opening defeat to Malaysia by posting 121-8 against Oman. Hafeez Khan led the scoring with 33, while Babar Hayat contributed 23 during a 51-run third-wicket partnership. Oman’s Mohammed Al Balushi took three wickets.
Oman struggled from the outset in their chase as Ayush Shukla claimed three wickets for just 13 runs in his opening three overs. Captain Sufyan Mehmood top-scored with 26, while Shuaib Al Balushi made 20.
Oman were eventually dismissed for 80 in the 12th over, giving Hong Kong, China a 41-run victory and a significant boost to their net run rate.
Oman now face Malaysia in their final group match. An Oman defeat would send both Malaysia and Hong Kong, China into the quarter-finals, while an Oman victory would leave all three teams with one win and make net run rate decisive.