Nepal Defeats Hong Kong in Rain-Interrupted Final Using DLS Method

Nepal triumphed over Hong Kong using the DLS method in the final of the Asian Games men’s cricket qualifier held in Singapore. The match was interrupted by rain when Nepal was chasing Hong Kong’s target of 189 runs, having reached 114 runs for 2 wickets in 11.3 overs. Nepal’s Kushal Bhurtel scored a half-century with 65 runs, while Sher Malla took 4 wickets with the ball. (May 25, Kathmandu)

In the final held on Monday afternoon, Nepal was in a strong position chasing Hong Kong’s impressive target of 189 runs. At 114 for 2 in 11.3 overs, the rain halted play. As per the DLS method, Nepal was declared the winner, needing 95 runs under the revised calculation and having surpassed the target by 19 runs. Kushal Bhurtel was dismissed after scoring 65 runs off 40 balls. Rohit Paudel scored 35 runs, and Dipendra Singh Airey remained not out on 9 runs.

Hong Kong’s Ehsan Khan and Ayush Shukla took one wicket each. Although Nepal was awarded the win, it did not register as their highest successful run chase in T20 cricket. Their best remains the chase of 186 runs against Kuwait in 2025, which to date stands as the most successful run chase by Nepal in T20 format.

In their innings, Hong Kong posted a strong total thanks to stellar half-centuries by Anshuman Rath and Shahid Wasif. After losing the toss and batting first, Hong Kong scored 188 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs. Rath scored 80 runs off 45 balls with 6 fours and 6 sixes, while Wasif contributed 55 runs from 28 balls. Nepal’s Sher Malla delivered an excellent bowling spell, taking 4 wickets for 32 runs in 4 overs. Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane took 2 and 1 wickets respectively. Despite being well-placed at 179 for 5 in 18 overs, Hong Kong failed to finish strongly. Both Nepal and Hong Kong remained undefeated on their journey to the final.