CHITTAGONG (Bangladesh): Bangladesh put in a clinical performance to defeat new-comers Nepal by eight wickets in the World Twenty20 here on Tuesday.

The hosts, who fielded after winning the toss, kept Nepal down to 126-5 in their 20 overs before reaching the modest target in 15.3 overs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Bangladesh, who beat Afghanistan in their first match, 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).

The young opener’s run-out brought all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to the crease and he ensured the home team significantly improved their net run rate with a 18-ball 37, studded with four sixes and four.

Sabbir Rahman made 21 not out complete the chase.

Nepal’s modest score was built around a polished 35-ball 41 by skipper Paras Khadka and a 43-ball 40 by Sharad Vesawkar who shared a 85-run stand for the fourth wicket.

But the experienced pair failed to speed up things in the final overs against some tight Bangladeshi bowling.

Paceman Al-Amin Hossain was the pick of the home bowlers with 2-17 in four overs. He was named Man-of-the-Match.

The second straight win puts Bangladesh in a strong position to qualify for the Super-10 stage from Group ‘A’.

They now play Hong Kong in their last match on Thursday 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 after losing to Afghanistan by seven wickets earlier on Tuesday.

Ireland and the Netherlands won their first matches in Group ‘B’ on Monday.—Agencies

Scoreboard

NEPAL: S.P. Khakurel c Razzak b Farhad 8 Sagar Pun c Shakib b Al-Amin 12 G. Malla lbw b Al-Amin 13 P. Khadka b Mashrafe 41 S. Vesawkar run out 40 B. Bhandari not out 0 EXTRAS (LB-3, W-9) 12 TOTAL (for five wkts, 20 overs) 126 FALL OF WKTS: 1-19, 2-38, 3-39, 4-124, 5-126. DID NOT BAT: B. Regmi, N.B. Budayair, S.P. Gauchan, Sompal Kami, J.K. Mukhiya.
BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 4-0-23-1; Al-Amin Hossain 4-0-17-2 (4w); Farhad Reza 3-0-27-1 (2w); Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-22-0; Nasir Hossain 3-0-22-0 (2w); Abdur Razzak 2-0-12-0 (1w). BANGLADESH: Tamim Iqbal c Sagar b Regmi 30 Anamul Haque run out 42 Sabbir Rahman not out 21 Shakib Al Hasan not out 37 EXTRAS (LB-2) 2 TOTAL (for two wkts, 15.3 overs) 132 FALL OF WKT: 1-63, 2-79. DID NOT BAT: Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Farhad Reza, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Al-Amin Hossain. BOWLING: Sompal Kami 2-0-21-0; Khadka 3-0-23-0; Gauchan 4-0-40-0; Mukhiya 2-0-16-0; Regmi 3-0-14-1; Sagar Pun 1.3-0-16-0. RESULT: Bangladesh won by eight wickets. UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and R.J. Tucker (Australia). TV UMPIRE: S. Ravi (India). MATCH REFEREE: J. Srinath (India). MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Al-Amin Hossain.