Bangladesh restrict Nepal to 126/3

Hosts Bangladesh dished out a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Nepal to 126 for five in a crucial Qualifying Group A match of the ICC World T20, here today.

Sent into bat, Nepal's innings was initially jolted by pacer Al-Amin Hossain (2/17) who picked up two wickets in the seventh over to reduce the Himalayan nation to 39 for three in 6.3 overs.

After opener Subash Kakhurel's (8) dismissal, Hossain accounted for two wickets -- Sagar Pun (12) and Gyanendra Malla (13) -- in a span of three deliveries to rock Nepal's innings.

But skipper Paras Khadka (41) and Sharad Vesawkar (40) then joined hands and shared 89 runs off 75 balls to lay the foundation for Nepal's score.

Just when it was time to accelerate, Khadka was cleaned up by Mashrafe Mortaza as the batsman went for cheeky sweep.

Towards the end, new man Binod Bhandari did not help his side's cause as he wasted five deliveries without adding a run to Nepal's total.

Apart from Hossain, Mortaza (1/23) and medium pacer Farhad Reza (1/27) scalped one wicket apiece for Bangladesh.