CHITTAGONG — Host Bangladesh crawled into the main draw of the World Twenty20 despite an embarrassing two-wicket defeat by Hong Kong in their final qualifying match here Thursday. Skittled out for a paltry 108 in 16.3 overs, Bangladesh risked losing the super 10 stage berth to Nepal if Hong Kong could chase down the target in 13.1 overs. Its bowlers, however, ensured Bangladesh stayed afloat in the tournament but could not stop associate nation Hong Kong from achieving a memorable victory over its Test playing rival with two balls to spare. Bangladesh now joins three former champions — India, Pakistan and West Indies — and Australia in Group Two where such sloppy play would invite humiliation. Put into bat, Bangladesh lost two wickets in the first over before Shakib Al Hasan (34) and Anamul Haq (26) steadied the ship. Cheered on by its passionate fans, the home side cruised to 85-3 in the 11th over before its spectacular collapse at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. For Hong Kong, Nadeem Ahmed (4-21) and Nizakat Khan (3-19) wreaked havoc as Bangladesh folded for a below-par score. Hong Kong's inexperience showed in its wobbly chase but Munir Dar (36) plundered 15 runs off a Farhad Reza over to turn the match on its head and Haseeb Amjad hit a six to score the winning run for it. In the first match, first-timer Nepal upset a higher ranked and more experienced Afghanistan by nine runs in Sylhet to record its second win in the tournament. Nepal, sent in to bat, was lifted by opener Subash Khakurel's career-best 56 to 141-5 and restricted its opponent to 132-8 in a Group A match. The defeat meant Afghanistan lost two of its three matches and failed to reach the next round. Paceman Jitendra Mukhiya, who finished with 3-18 in four overs, jolted Afghanistan with two early wickets, while spinner Shakti Gauchan took two wickets in one over to leave Afghanistan in tatters on 50-5. Shafiqullah Shafiq (36) and Asghar Stanikzai (49) did their best to stop the collapse. But a 24-run target in the last over proved way beyond Afghanistan's reach. Earlier, Khakurel anchored the Nepalese innings with some sensible batting, adding an invaluable 76 for the fourth wicket with Sharad Vesawkar who made 37. Khakurel hit six boundaries and a six during his 53-ball knock before falling to paceman Shapoor Zadran, the best of the Afghan bowlers with 2-19. Ireland, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe are in contention to qualify for the next round from Group B. The top team from each group will join eight seeded teams in the Super-10 stage, starting Friday. There are two qualifying round matches in Sylhet Friday, while archrivals Pakistan and India kick off the Super-10 stage in a match in Dhaka. Brief scores: Bangladesh 108 all out in 16.3 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 34, Anamul Haque 26; Nadeem Ahmed 4-21, Nizakat Khan 3-19). Hong Kong 114-8 in 19.4 overs (Munir Dar 36, Irfan Ahmed 34; Shakib Al Hasan 3-9) Nepal 141 for 5 in 20 overs (S. Khakurel 56, S. Vesawkar 37; Shapoor Zadran 2-19). Afghanistan 132-8 in 20 overs (Asghar Stanikzai 49, Shafiqullah Shafiq 36; J. Mukhiya 3-18). — Agencies
