Nepal has lost to Afghanistan by 17 runs in its first match of the Hong Kong International Sixes tournament.

In the match held earlier this morning at the Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, batting first after winning the toss, Afghanistan scored 112 runs in the stipulated 6 overs.

Opener Karim Janat top-scored for Afghanistan with 35 runs in 10 balls followed by Farmanullah and captain Gulbadin Naib who scored 30 and 22 runs respectively.

For the bowling side, Rashid Khan took 4 wickets while Lokesh Bam took 1 wicket.

In reply, despite a valiant 53 runs in 14 balls by captain Sundeep Jora, Nepal failed to reach the victory target of 113 runs, and used the full quota of 6 overs to score only 95 runs. 

Lokesh Bam scored 10 runs in 10 balls while Rashid Khan and Mohammad Aadil Alam scored 11 runs each.

In the tournament, Nepal has been grouped in Pool A, also comprising South Africa.

Nepal will now face South Africa in the match to be held on Saturday.