KATHMANDU: In a thrilling match on Saturday, Hong Kong clinched third place in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup by defeating Nepal by four wickets.

Nepal, after winning the toss, set a target of 140 runs for Hong Kong.

In the 20-over game, Nepal managed to score 139 runs while losing eight wickets.

Dipendra Singh Airee led Nepal’s batting with 44 runs, supported by Sandeep Jora and Rohit Poudel who contributed 22 and 21 runs respectively.

Ayush Shukla of Hong Kong stood out with three wickets.

After losing to UAE and Oman in the first and second semifinals respectively, both Nepal and Hong Kong battled for the third spot in the tournament.

In their chase of 140 runs, Hong Kong faced ups and downs but ultimately reached the target in overs.

Anshuman Rath led the charge with a resilient 65 runs, while Babar Hayat contributed 26 runs.

Sompal Kami and Dipendra Singh Airee showcased commendable bowling performances, taking three and two wickets respectively for Nepal.

With this victory, Hong Kong secures a place in the Emerging Cup by clinching the third position in the tournament.