CHITTAGONG — Host Bangladesh thrashed Nepal by eight wickets Tuesday to climb to the top of qualifying Group A and boost its prospects of advancing to the Super 10 stage of the World Twenty20. In the day's other match, a gritty 68 off 53 balls by opener Mohammad Shahzad and an unbeaten 51 from 24 balls from Shafiqullah helped Afghanistan to a seven-wicket win over Hong Kong to keep its hopes alive in the tournament. The second straight win puts Bangladesh in a strong position to qualify for the Super-10 stage from Group A. It now plays Hong Kong in its last match, while Nepal meet Afghanistan. Afghanistan and Nepal have one win in two games, while Hong Kong crashed out of the event with two defeats in as many games. The winners of qualifying groups A and B will join the eight top-ranked countries in the next stage of the tournament. Bangladesh chased down a paltry 127-run target with 27 balls to spare, powered by a 33-ball 42 from opener Anamul Haque. Anamul, who hit five fours and two sixes, gave Bangladesh a brisk start and added 63 for the first wicket with Tamim Iqbal (30) after the bowlers restricted Nepal to 126 for five in their 20 overs. Anamul's run-out brought all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to the crease and he ensured the home team significantly improved its net run rate with an 18-ball 37, studded with four sixes and four. Paceman Al-Amin Hossain led the Bangladesh bowlers with figures of two for 17 runs as Nepal, which beat Hong Kong in its opening match, struggled for momentum after being put into bat. Earlier, Shahzad and Shafiq hit aggressive half-centuries to help Afghanistan to an easy win. Shahzad notched up a fiery 53-ball 68 while Shafiq smashed a career-best 50 not out off just 24 balls to help Afghanistan reach its 154-run target with 12 balls to spare. Shahzad hit three sixes and six boundaries in a chancy knock. Shafiq completed the task with a well-timed boundary to complete his maiden fifty and seal the win. Shahzad had his full share of luck. Sloppy Hong Kong fielding gave him two lives, on 25 and 64. And when he was finally dismissed in the 16th over with 38 still needed, the Afghans were far from home. But Shafiq hit three sixes off paceman Aizaz Ahmed's 17th over to reduce the target to 11 runs. Hong Kong, which chose to bat, got off to a disastrous start when it lost opener Irfan Ahmed to the first ball of the match, bowled by left-arm paceman Shapoor Zadran, who finished with 2-27. It was left to Mark Chapman (38), Waqas Barkat (32) and Jamie Atkinson (31) to put the innings back on track with some sensible batting. Barkat and Chapman added 60 for the third wicket and at 102-3 in the 14th over, Hong Kong should have put together a higher total then its 153-8. But spinners Mohammad Nabi (2-27) and Hamza Hotak (2-32) put the brakes on Hong Kong's progress. Brief scores: Nepal 126-5 in 20 overs (P. Khadka 41, S. Vesawkar 40; Al-Amin Hossain 2-17) Bangladesh 132-2 in 15.3 overs (Anamul Haque 42, Shakib Al Hasan 37 not out). Hong Kong 153-8 in 20 overs (M. Chapman 38, Waqas Barkat 32, Jamie Atkinson 31; Shapoor Zadran 2-27, Mohammad Nabi 2-27; Hamza Hotak 2-32). Afghanistan 154-3 in 18 overs (Mohammad Shahzad 68, Shafiqullah Shafiq 51 not out). — Agencies
