Kushal retains form as Nepal outplay PNG

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Mar 12, 2024

Kushal Bhurtel went all around to help Nepal beat Papua New Guinea by 85 runs in their last group stage match of the Hong Kong Men’s Twenty20 Tri-Series on Tuesday at Mission Road Ground, Hong Kong.

Nepal posted a mammoth 198-6 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Then, they restricted the opponent to 113 runs in 16.1 and booked their spot in the final.

Nepal collected three points in two matches including a wash-out match against the host. PNG and Hong Kong, China are battling out in the second fixture of the day as the winner of the match will meet Nepal in the final on Wednesday.

Kushal returned his career-best bowling figure to dismantle PNG’s batting line-up. He picked up four wickets, giving away only 12 runs in his four overs. Pratish GC conceded 40 in his four overs with two wickets to his name. Gulshan Jha (1-7) and Aakash Chand (1-16) also contributed with a wicket apiece.

PNG were in the match with 73-3 till the 9th over before Hiri Hiri departed for 19-ball 28 including two sixes and a four. The losing side gave away their last seven wickets for only 40 runs.

Earlier, player-of-the-match Kushal top-scored for Nepal with 39-ball 59. He slammed four sixes and as many boundaries. He became the second player after Dipendra Singh Airee to cross the 1000-run landmark in Twenty20 Internationals for Nepal.

Sundeep Jora brought up his second Twenty20 International half-century for Nepal with 56 off 26 balls. Batting at number five, He smashed four sixes and three boundaries.

Skipper Assad Vala returned the figures of 2-18 in his three overs.