Hong Kong suffer heartbreak as Nepal grab last-ball win in World Twenty20
Team get their last chance when they face Papua New Guinea on Thursday in the final play-off to decide the last qualifying berth
Hong Kong will need a Herculean effort to pick themselves up for their last chance of making the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh next year, after they slipped to a heartbreaking last-ball loss to Nepal in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Emotions were drained in a tense, see-sawing play-off, which ended with Nepali batsman Sharad Vesawkar holding his nerve and pushing Haseeb Amjad for the winning run past mid-off to see the winners into the semi-final and, more importantly, secure one of the six qualifying berths for Bangladesh.
While hundreds of screaming Nepali fans and their cricketers celebrated, it was doom and gloom for Hong Kong, who for the second time in this qualifying tournament had seen the promised land only for it to dissolve into a mirage in the desert heat.
Everyone is shattered. I have never seen them so disappointed
The first chance came in their final group game, where they lost to Ireland by 86 runs with the Irish directly booking an automatic berth to Bangladesh. Wednesday was Hong Kong's second chance, and it was much closer, with several heart-stopping moments, but in the end all that remained was heartache as Nepal chased down the target of 144 for the loss of five wickets.
"Everyone is shattered. I have never seen them so disappointed," said coach Charlie Burke. "I felt we had enough runs on the board, but in the end Nepal held their nerve better."
Put in to bat, Hong Kong made 143 for eight thanks to some big hitting from Tanwir Afzal (25) at the end. Nizakat Khan and Waqas Barkat also made 25, but the failure to carry on and make a big score cost Hong Kong.
Hong Kong get their last chance on Thursday when they come up against Papua New Guinea in the final play-off to decide the last qualifying berth. They will be missing skipper and wicketkeeper Jamie Atkinson, who broke his right hand, while trying to take a catch to dismiss Nepali counterpart Paras Khadka, who led the run chase with a sweet 46.
"We will miss Jamie hugely, but the sign of a good team is how you bounce back when you are on the canvas. This is our last chance and we have to take it," Burke said.
