In the men’s cricket event at the Asian Games, Hong Kong and Nepal secured victories against Oman and Afghanistan respectively.
In a Group B match played in Shaoxing, Hong Kong won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a total of 121 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. In response, Oman’s batting lineup struggled to chase the target.
Meanwhile, the second match of the day brought together Group A contenders Afghanistan and Nepal. Afghanistan won the toss and batted first, managing 102 runs for 7 wickets, with Faisal Khan Ahmadzai and Najibullah Zadran each contributing 30 runs. Nepal’s Kushal Bhurtel claimed 4 wickets and Lalit Rajbanshi took 3. Nepal comfortably chased down the 103-run target in 17.2 overs losing 5 wickets, aided by Sandeep Jora’s 34 runs and captain Rohit Paudel’s unbeaten 33.
The final group stage matches are scheduled for tomorrow, featuring Japan against Nepal in the first match and Malaysia against Oman in the second. The top two teams from both groups will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face powerhouse sides Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
