KATHMANDU:- Nepal clinched the title of the Asian Games Men’s Cricket Qualifier by defeating Hong Kong in the final today.

In the final match held at the Singapore National Cricket Ground in Singapore today, Nepal defeated Hong Kong by 19 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method after rain interrupted the game.

Chasing a 188-run victory target posted by Hong Kong, Nepal had collected 114 runs for 2 wickets in 11.3 overs when rain interrupted the match. Nepal was then declared the title winner of the Asian Games Men’s Cricket Qualifier via the DLS method after the match could not resume.

For Nepal, Kushal Bhurtel contributed the highest 65 runs in 40 balls while captain Rohit Paudel scored 35 runs in 24 balls. Earlier, invited to bat first after losing the toss, Hong Kong scored 188 runs in the allotted 20 overs.

Anshuman Rath scored the highest 80 runs in 46 balls while Shahid Wasif gathered 55 runs and Shiv Mathur scored 26 runs in 21 balls. For the bowling side, Sher Malla of Nepal took four wickets while Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane took two wickets and one wicket respectively.

Nepal and Hong Kong have already been selected for the Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Japan later this year.