Nepal qualifies for World Twenty20 with win over Hong Kong

Sydney: Nepal will compete in a major cricket tournament for the first time next year after securing a berth in the upcoming World Twenty20 by beating Hong Kong by five wickets in a quarterfinal match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Nepal joined Afghanistan, Ireland, who have competed in the last World T20s, and the UAE in advancing to the tournament in Bangladesh in March. According to News.com.au, Nepal, which needed 13 runs off the final over, hit a six, four, and two singles to tie the score with one ball left, following which Nepalese Sharad Vesawkar hit the winning run through extra cover The report mentioned that the team is coached by former Sri Lanka Test cricketer Pubudu Dassanayake, who took over in 2011 after guiding Canada to the 2011 World Cup. Nepal will travel to New Zealand in January to try and qualify for the 2015 World Cup against many of the teams they have faced in the United Arab Emirates. The Himalayan kingdom`s cricket team beat Denmark, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, the Netherlands, and Bermuda, against losses to Scotland and Afghanistan to reach the qualifying playoffs, and the win over Hong Kong put them in a semifinal against Afghanistan on Friday, the report added.