Kathmandu: Nepal registered third victory in a row registering an empathetic nine-wicket victory over Hong Kong in the  ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Qualifiers match at the Lower Mulpani International Cricket Ground in Kathmandu on Wednesday. 

Inviting Hong Kong to bat first, Nepal bowled out the visitors for 115 runs in 42.2 overs and raced to the victory in 12.3 overs scoring 118-1. 

The third victory lifted Nepal on top of the standings with maximum six points and they could be replaced to second position if Afghanistan, currently playing against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), win the game. They have four points from two games winning both or their previous games.

Hong Kong, who lost their second game in a row, are yet to open accounts in the point table.

Nepal opener Shahil Patel contributed unbeaten 42 off 41 ball studded with eight hits to the fences. His opening partner Niraj Kumar Yadav played a quickfire 23 off 12 balls comprising four hits to the fences. Captain Naren Bhatta remained unbeaten on 39 runs facing 23 deliveries that included eight boundaries to complete the chase. 

Earlier, home team’s leg spinner Yuvraj Khatri and off spinner Bipin Sharma wretched havoc with the ball claiming four wickets and three wickets respectively to bowl out Hong Kong for a paltry total.  

Shiv Mathur was the most successful batter for Hong Kong scoring 63 off 116 balls that included four boundaries and a six. Santosh Yadav caught him in a delivery by Yuvraj. Opener Arya Panjwani (13), Harry Thomas Hodgson (10) and Veer Mathur (12) were the other batters to touch double digit figures for Hong Kong.  

Yuvraj, who had claimed five wickets in their last match against Oman, returned with figures of 10-0-18-4. Bipin grabbed three wickets in his 6.2 overs bowling conceding 24 runs. 

Nepal had registered victories in their first two matches defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by five runs on D/L method in their opening game on Sunday Oman by eight wickets on Monday. 

Nepal will vie against one of the contenders Afghanistan in the last league game on Saturday in the five-team group that sends table topper to the 2026 World Cup finals.