In a thrilling match in the Hong Kong T20I series, Nepal defeated Kuwait by 6 wickets with an impressive all-round performance. The match, held at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, Hong Kong, saw Nepal chase down a challenging target of 186 runs with 7 balls to spare, losing only 4 wickets.
A Historic Chase for Nepal
Nepal’s successful chase set a new record for their highest target achieved in a T20I match. The previous highest chase was 166 runs against Malaysia.
Key Performances from Nepal’s Top Batsmen
Nepal’s openers played a vital role in the victory. Kushal Bhurtel scored the highest runs with 81, and Asif Sheikh contributed with 53 runs. Together, they formed a partnership of 127 runs for the first wicket, which set the foundation for Nepal’s success. This 127-run partnership is the highest-ever opening partnership for Nepal in T20Is, surpassing the previous record of 116 runs against the Netherlands in 2021.
Bhurtel’s Outstanding Form
Kushal Bhurtel scored 81 runs off 50 balls, hitting 6 fours and a six. This marked his 11th half-century in T20I cricket, setting a new record for Nepal and surpassing Dipendra Singh Airee in terms of most half-centuries. Asif Sheikh played an important role, too, hitting 2 fours and 4 sixes in his 38-ball 53 runs.
Dipendra Singh Airee’s Explosive Finish
Dipendra Singh Airee played a quick cameo, scoring 31 runs from just 12 balls, which helped Nepal complete the chase. He hit 2 fours and 3 sixes, showcasing his finishing skills.
Kuwait’s Performance
Kuwait, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, posted a total of 185/7 in 20 overs. Their best batsman was Clinto Anto, who scored 41 runs. Meet Bhavsar contributed 35, and Bilal Tahir made 32 runs.
Despite a good start, where Kuwait added 97 runs in the first 10 overs losing only 2 wickets, they couldn’t maintain the momentum and lost regular wickets, falling short of 200 runs.
Nepal’s Bowling Attack
Sompal Kami was the star bowler for Nepal, taking 3 wickets for 36 runs in his 4 overs. Nandan Yadav also made a significant contribution with 2 wickets for 34 runs in 4 overs. Lalit Rajbanshi and Kushal Bhurtel both took 1 wicket each.
Nepal’s Path to the Final
With this consecutive victory, Nepal has strengthened its chances of reaching the final. They had already defeated Qatar in the first game of the series. Nepal is now at the top of the points table with 4 points. Kuwait is in second place with 2 points, having defeated Hong Kong in their opening match.
Nepal will now play their final league match against the host team, Hong Kong, on Saturday. The top two teams from the league phase will compete in the final on Sunday.