Nepal kicked off their Asian Games 2026 campaign with a commanding performance, defeating Afghanistan by five wickets in a tight Group A match at Korogi Sports Park on Friday.
A disciplined bowling effort, highlighted by Kushal Bhurtel’s four‑wicket haul, bowled Afghanistan out for a mere 102. Rohit Paudel then steadied the chase with an unbeaten 33 off 32 balls, backed by Sundeep Jora and captain Dipendra Singh Airee, steering Nepal to a memorable win after a shaky beginning.
Afghanistan struggle to build momentum
Afghanistan struggled to find rhythm under the pressure of Nepal’s spin attack. Bhurtel was especially troublesome, taking four wickets as Nepal repeatedly broke up any partnership building. At the other end, Lalit Rajbanshi was equally tight, conceding just 13 runs from his four overs while claiming three wickets.
Faisal Shinozada and Najibullah Zadran provided some resistance with identical scores of 30, and Nangeyalia Kharoti contributed 17 late in the innings. Beyond that, Afghanistan had little to show as Nepal kept the run rate in check, bowling them out for 102 and setting up a chase.
Nepal wobble before Paudel and Jora steady the innings
The chase, however, was far from easy. Nepal lost Bhurtel for a duck when Faridoon Dawoodzai struck early, followed by Abdullah Ahmadzai dismissing Aasif Sheikh for two runs. Kushal Malla fell to a run‑out in the seventh over, leaving Nepal reeling at 31/3. Sensing a chance to turn the game, Afghanistan pressed forward, but Jora and Paudel took charge of rebuilding the innings. They played cautiously, slowly reducing the target. Jora added aggression with a four and a six in the ninth and tenth overs before his run‑out briefly revived the contest, while Paudel stayed composed.
Paudel keeps his cool as Nepal close in
As pressure mounted, Paudel partnered with captain Dipendra Singh Airee. Instead of forcing the issue, they rotated the strike with singles and twos, denying Afghanistan any chance to regain momentum. Dipendra fell in the 18th over after scoring 15 off 18 balls, but by then Nepal had matched Afghanistan’s total. Paudel then accelerated, hitting three boundaries in the 16th and 17th overs to bring Nepal within reach, before Gulsan Jha sealed the win with a single. Paudel finished unbeaten on 33 from 32 balls, anchoring a chase that had looked precarious early on.
What the result means for Group A
The win provides Nepal with an ideal launchpad for their Asian Games 2026 campaign, while Afghanistan now sits with one win and one loss from their two group fixtures. Despite the loss, Afghanistan still leads the three‑team Group A on net run rate. Nepal has one remaining match against winless Japan, and with only two league games per side, the margin for error is slim. The top two teams from each group progress to the quarterfinals, so Nepal’s victory could be pivotal as qualification scenarios crystallize. For the moment, Nepal can celebrate a triumph built on two contrasting strengths: the disciplined bowling of Bhurtel and Rajbanshi, followed by Paudel’s calm composure when the chase wavered.