Hard-hitting Hayat blows Nepal away with second Twenty20 International century

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Mar 09, 2024

Babar Hayat’s blistering century helped Hong Kong China, defeat Nepal by 73 runs in the one-off Twenty20 International Friendship Cup at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground on Saturday.

Opting to bowl first, Nepal were hammered for 212-6 in 20 overs. Aizaz Khan then picked up four wickets to bundle out the visitors for just 139 runs in 16.4 overs.

Hong Kong blew away Nepal in the death overs, scoring 95 off the last 39 balls. Babar scored his second Twenty20 International century with a 49-ball 110. He struck 13 sixes and three fours. Anshuman Rath contributed 39 off 32, hitting three boundaries and two sixes.

Aakash Chand picked up three wickets on his debut in the Twenty20 International for Nepal. He returned the figures of 3-27 in his three overs. Pratish GC (1-29), Rashid Khan (1-48), and Aarif Sheikh (1-37) all chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Nepal were 117-2 until the 11th over but lost the remaining eight wickets for just 22 runs. Binod Bhandari, who was opening the innings with Kushal Bhurtel (two), top-scored with a quickfire 22-ball 42.

Bhandari hit four boundaries and three sixes. Aarif Sheikh (38) and Rohit Kumar Paudel (30) were the other two to score in double digits for the visiting team.

Aizaz Khan returned the figures of 4-26 in 3.4 overs. Ehsan Khan took three wickets, giving away 26 runs in four overs.