Hong Kong take on Nepal with Super Six place at stake
Overview
Hong Kong v Nepal
Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bulawayo
CWCQ, Match 19
Monday 12 March, 09:30 local time, 07:30 GMT
Hong Kong have everything to play for in their final Group B fixture, knowing that victory will see them leapfrog Afghanistan and seal their place in the Super Sixes. Nepal, meanwhile, have the slimmest of chances of advancing, needing to win by a huge margin if they are to pip the Afghans to third spot on net run rate.
Hong Kong have produced a mixed bag so far in the competition, with a memorable victory over Afghanistan sandwiched between comprehensive defeats to Scotland and Zimbabwe. If they are to qualify for their first ever World Cup they will need to find greater consistency, particularly in the batting department.
Hong Kong add to Afghanistan's woes with 30 run victory (DLS)
Anshy Rath is their only batsman to pass 50 so far in the tournament, with the 31 made by captain Babar Hayat against Afghanistan their second-highest individual score. That statistic needs to be quickly improved upon if they are to reach the business end of the tournament.
The bowling unit has been much more impressive. Ehsan Khan, the 33-year-old off-spinner, is the competition's joint-highest wicket-taker with nine at an average of 12.55, while Aizaz Khan's economy rate of 3.79 is among the best in the tournament.
Nepal qualified for the CWCQ in dramatic fashion at the ICC World Cricket League Division Two and they will be hoping to rekindle those memories as they search for a first win in the tournament. They have yet to really get going so far in Zimbabwe, conceding 380 to the hosts and losing by 116 runs in their opening match, before being bowled out for 149 and 194 by Scotland and Afghanistan respectively.
Nepal's dressing room celebrations after booking their spot at the Cricket World Cup Qualifier
Their experienced captain Paras Khadka has led the way with the bat, hitting 178 runs at 59 including two half-centuries, but he has received precious little support, while the 17-year-old leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has shown glimpses of his potential, picking up four wickets.
Nepal will need to find the all-round team performance they have so far been lacking if they are to overcome Hong Kong.
Key players
**Anshy Rath (Hong Kong):**The 20-year-old has looked a class act in this tournament, bouncing back from a five-ball duck in Hong Kong's first match against Scotland to post 65 in the victory over Afghanistan and 85 versus Zimbabwe. An elegant stroke-maker with a cool head that belies his tender years, Rath will be pivotal to his side's chances of progressing to the Super Sixes. If he falls for a low score, Hong Kong will have it all to do to post a match-winning total.
CWCQ: Anshy Rath's 65 helps Hong Kong to 241
Paras Khadka (Nepal): Khadka is an enormously popular figure in Nepal and has become used to the cricketing hopes of the nation resting upon his shoulders. The 30-year-old came into the CWCQ in excellent touch, registering a century against UAE in a warm-up fixture, and he has made scores of 40, 63 and 75 in the competition itself. His canny medium-pacers are also a useful asset to his team.
CWCQ: Paras Khadka scores 75 for Nepal
Conditions
The weather is set fair in Bulawayo, with lots of sunshine and temperatures expected to reach as high as 28 degrees.
Squads
**Hong Kong:**Babar Hayat (c), Ahsan Abbasi, Nadeem Ahmed, Tanveer Ahmed, Tanwir Afzal, Waqas Barkat, Chris Carter, Aizaz Khan, Ehsan Khan, Ehsan Nawaz, Nizakat Khan, Scott McKechnie (wk), Anshuman Rath, Simandeep Singh, Shahid Wasif
Nepal: Paras Khadka (c), Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee (wk), Lalit Bhandari, Shakti Gauchan, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Gyanendra Malla, Dilip Nath, Rohit Kumar, Lalit Rajbanshi, Basant Regmi, Anil Sah, Sompal Kami, Sharad Vesawkar