Nepal cricketer Subash Khakurel plays a shot during his team’s ICC World Twenty20 qualifying match against Hong Kong in Chittagong. (AFP)
First-timers Nepal upset a higher ranked and more experienced Afghanistan by nine runs in Sylhet to record their second win in the World Twenty20 tournament yesterday.
Nepal, sent in to bat, were lifted by opener Subash Khakurel’s career-best 56 to 141-5 and restricted their opponents to 132-8 in a Group A match.
The defeat meant Afghanistan lost two of their three matches and failed to reach the next round.
Paceman Jitendra Mukhiya, who finished with 3-18 in four overs, jolted Afghanistan with two early wickets, while spinner Shakti Gauchan took two wickets in one over to leave Afghanistan in tatters on 50-5.
Shafiqullah Shafiq (36) and Asghar Stanikzai (49) did their best to stop the collapse. But a 24-run target in the last over proved way beyond Afghanistan’s reach.
Nepal skipper Paras Khadka showed delight in the win.
“Afghanistan are a good team and this win showed we are improving with every day and it was a very good tournament for us,” said Khadka whose country played their first-ever major cricket event.
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi was upset at the defeat.
“It was a big event but we didn’t start well and didn’t finish it well either, so we are upset,” said Nabi.
Earlier Khakurel anchored the Nepalese innings with some sensible batting, adding an invaluable 76 for the fourth wicket with Sharad Vesawkar who made 37.
Khakurel hit six boundaries and a six during his 53-ball knock before falling to paceman Shapoor Zadran, the best of the Afghan bowlers with 2-19.
Nepal will now await the outcome of the last match in the group, with hosts Bangladesh needing a win against the United Arab Emirates to go through to the next round.
Ireland, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe are in contention to qualify for the next round from Group B.
The top team from each group will join eight seeded teams in the Super-10 stage, starting today.
Brief scores:
Nepal 141 for 5 in 20 overs (S. Khakurel 56, S. Vesawkar 37; Shapoor Zadran 2-19)
Afghanistan 132-8 in 20 overs (Asghar Stanikzai 49, Shafiqullah Shafiq 36; J. Mukhiya 3-18)
Nepal won by nine runs and recorded their second win in this tournament.
Shopping malls to close early for World T20
Authorities in Bangladesh have asked businesses, shopping malls and markets to shut down during the evening to save electricity in the wake of Wednesday’s power outage during a World Twenty20 match in Sylhet.
The qualifying group B match between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates plunged into darkness twice due to power failure at the Sylhet Stadium.
“They have been told to close their shutters after 8pm (1400 GMT) to save electricity so that people can watch matches on televisions,” Monowar Islam, secretary of Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, told Reuters yesterday.
Authorities also asked people to cut the use of air conditioners, water pumps, micro-ovens and other home appliances during the evening, the peak hours for the cricket.
Last week, Bangladesh stopped supplying gas to six major fertilizer factories out of seven in order to divert gas supply to power plants and ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply for the tournament.
Chronic power shortages often stir public fury and spark violent protests in the country.
Angry fans have previously gone on the rampage, attacking electricity supply centres, when blackouts have hit live telecast of games.
The March 16- April 6 tournament, featuring 16 teams, is being held across three cities in Bangladesh.