It has been quite an interesting day for Nepal cricket. The men’s team completed a comprehensive 221-run victory against China in the Asian Games 2026 qualifier in Singapore. However, the women’s team was bested by China by five wickets (DLS) to book their place in the Asian Games 2026, slated to be held in Japan later this year.
Riding on a magnificent 43-ball 129 from opener Kushal Bhurtel, Nepal piled on 313/2 in their 20 overs, the fourth-highest total in T20Is. The explosive batter hit as many as 16 sixes in the match, the joint-third most by a player in a T20I innings. His innings included him hitting six sixes in an over – the fourth batter to achieve this feat after Yuvraj Singh, Kieron Pollard and Dipendra Singh Airee.
Moreover, Nepal hit as many as 29 sixes in their innings, the joint-most by a team, equaling Spain’s record against Croatia in 2025. Bhurtel scored his runs at a strike rate of exactly 300. Among players who have scored a century, only four other batters – Finn Allen (303.03), Sikandar Raza (309.3), Sahil Chauhan (351.21) and Muhammad Fahad (352.94) – have done so at a better strike rate.
Bhurtel put on 175 off just 62 deliveries with Kushal Malla (85) for the second wicket – the second-highest partnership for Nepal in T20Is. Then, Rohit Paudel (69) and Malla added a further 116-run stand for the third wicket to take the team past 300.
In reply, China folded for just 92 with Malla picking up three wickets, while Sandeep Lamichhane and Sompal Kami chipped in with two apiece.
Nepal will hope to keep the momentum going when they take on Malaysia next on June 4 at the Singapore National Cricket Ground.
How did Nepal Women fare?
Needing just a win to qualify for the Asian Games, Nepal Women failed to get over the line in their third-place fixture against China in Kuala Lumpur. In a rain-curtailed game, Nepal scored 50/5 in their allotted seven overs. Needing 43 to win the game, China got their off the last ball of the match.
Needing two to win off the final ball, Cai Yuzhi collected a boundary to take her side home and book China’s place in the Asian Games 2026. Other than China, Malaysia and Thailand also booked their place in the multi-team event.
They will join India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Japan (Hosts) at the Asian Games in September.
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