Match abandoned Nepal 149 for 4 (Jora 57*, Bam 52*, Sakurano-Thomas 1-7) vs Japan
Rain halted Japan’s chase before it could get underway, resulting in an abandoned match in Nisshin on Saturday. Consequently, Nepal claimed first place in Group A of the men’s competition, while Japan were knocked out, with Afghanistan advancing as the group’s second qualifier for the quarter‑finals.
Japan invited Nepal to bat first. Despite rain interruptions before and during the fifth over, Nepal posted a competitive 149 for 4. Sundeep Jora and Lokesh Bam remained unbeaten on 57 and 52 respectively. The early wickets fell cheaply—Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla and Gulsan Jha each departed for single figures—while only Aasif Sheikh offered momentum with a brisk 21 off 15 balls.
After the partnership with Sheikh yielded 55 runs for the second wicket, the score stood at 84 for 4 after ten overs, leaving five overs remaining. Bam’s arrival accelerated the run‑rate; he smashed an unbeaten 52 from just 22 balls, striking one four and six sixes. Jora continued his steady contribution, finishing with an unbeaten 57 from 32 deliveries, featuring five fours and three sixes.
Although Japan had shown promise with the ball against Afghanistan in their opener—and had pushed India in a preceding T20I—their batting fell short. They exit the Asian Games having flashed brilliance in patches but unable to convert it into a decisive victory.
