Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal recorded its third straight win in the ICC Men’s U19 Asia Qualifier, defeating Hong Kong by nine wickets at the Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Batting first, Hong Kong was all out for 115 runs in the 47th over. Nepal chased down the target, losing one wicket in the 13th over.
Captain Shiva Mathur top-scored for Hong Kong with a valiant 63 off 116 balls. Opener Aryan Panjwani contributed 13, Veer Mathur scored 12 and Harry Hodgson contributed 10. Other Hong Kong batters failed to get into double digits.
Yuvraj Khatri picked four wickets for Nepal, while Bipin Sharma claimed three, Santosh Yadav contributed two and Ashok Dhami had a wicket to his name.
In reply, openers Sahil Patel and Niraj Yadav added 55 runs for the first wicket for Nepal. Sahil Patel scored an unbeaten 42 off 41 balls for Nepal, Niraj Yadav scored 23 off 12 balls and Captain Naren Bhatta remained not out 39 off 23 balls.
Shayan Puri claimed the only wicket for Hong Kong.
Nepal will play its last match of the qualifier against Afghanistan on Saturday. The winner of the match will qualify for the 2026 ICC Men’s U-19 World Cup to be hosted jointly by Namibia and Zimbambwe.
