Nepal Chase Down 103-Run Target to Beat Afghanistan by Five Wickets
Nepal defeated Afghanistan by five wickets in the men’s T20 cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The Group A encounter took place at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, where Nepal successfully chased Afghanistan’s target of 103 runs with 17.2 overs.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first but struggled to build momentum against Nepal’s bowling attack. The Afghan side lost three of its top-order batters early, leaving the team under pressure during the first part of the innings.
Faisal Khan Ahmadzai and Najibullah Zadran provided some stability by scoring 30 runs each. Nangeyalia Kharote then added an unbeaten 17 from 15 balls, helping Afghanistan reach 102 for 7 in 20 overs. The total gave Nepal a manageable target but required a disciplined chase.
Nepal’s bowlers played a major role in restricting Afghanistan. Kushal Bhurtel took four wickets, while Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi claimed three, putting Afghanistan’s batting order under sustained pressure. Their combined figures prevented Afghanistan from producing the type of total that could have put Nepal under serious pressure.
Nepal also experienced an uncertain start to the chase, losing early wickets. However, Sundeep Jora produced an important 34 from 35 balls, while Rohit Kumar Paudel contributed 33 from 32 deliveries. Dipendra Singh Airee added 15 before Nepal completed the chase, with Gulshan Kumar Jha scoring the final run needed for victory.
Nepal eventually reached 103 for 5 in 17.2 overs, securing a five-wicket victory and strengthening its position in Group A. The result gives Nepal valuable momentum ahead of its next match against Japan, while Afghanistan will have to regroup after suffering defeat following its opening-day win over Japan.
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