For the first time in five years, an Associate nation has won a game at
the World T20. Okay, so that was a given, as Hong Kong and Nepal
contested the maiden encounter between two second-tier sides in the
tournament's history, but Nepal's achievement, on their World T20 debut,
was no less memorable for that.
Paras Khadka,
Nepal's statesmanlike captain and the man who has been so visible in
their remarkable rise through the echelons of world cricket, struck a
belligerent 41 and Gyanendra Malla
48 to set up a resounding 80-run win. Hong Kong, bristling with
confidence before the game, crumbled in pursuit of 150, dismissed with
three overs left unbowled as only three batsmen made double figures.
Playing in front of the TV cameras, if not a packed-out stadium, perhaps
exacerbated their nerves.
Having worked hard to get back into the match after an 80-run stand
between Khadka and Malla, Hong Kong slipped quickly back into the red by
losing two wickets in the first two overs. Babar Hayat and Waqas Barkat
got through the Powerplay before Shakti Gauchan claimed the first of his three wickets and when Mark Chapman was bowled by Basant Regmi - the first of two in two balls for Nepal's slow left-armer - it precipitated a calamitous collapse.
Gauchan struck twice in the next over, rattling the stumps for the
fourth time in a row, and charged off with his arm pointing to the sky
in celebration. This was a night on which Nepal's passion for cricket
was given rich reward.
"Paras Khadka, chhaka padka" [Paras Khadka, hit a six] implored
the Nepal support and this was the only facet of their evening in which
they were to be disappointed. On social media, pictures were posted of
crowds gathered in front of specially erected big screens in towns and
cities in Nepal. Much has been made of this World T20 extending
cricket's global reach; in Khadka, who later took a wicket with his
first ball, Nepal has an impressive ambassador.