Kathmandu: Nepal has defeated Kuwait by six wickets in a match played today under the Four-Nation T20 International Cricket Championship underway in Hong Kong.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Nepal secured the 186-run target posed by Kuwait in 18.5 overs, losing four wickets. Opener duo Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh played a half-century partnership in Nepal’s victory. Bhurtel scored 81 runs with the help of six fours and six sixes off 50 balls, while Sheikh made 53 runs including two fours and four sixes off 38 balls.
Dipendra Singh Airee also made a significant contribution of 31 runs with three sixes and two fours in just 12 balls. On the bowling side for Kuwait, Yasin Patel took two wickets, while Mohamed Shafeeq and Mohammed Aslam claimed one wicket each.
Kuwait, batting first, had reached a total of 185 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of eight wickets. Their innings featured contributions from opener Clinto Anto with 41 runs and Ravija Sandaruwan with 26 runs. Meet Bhavsar added 35 runs, and Bilal Tahir contributed 32 runs to the total.
For Nepal, Sompal Kami was the standout bowler, taking three wickets. Nandan Yadav took two wickets, while Lalit Rajbanshi and Kushal Bhurtel each took one wicket.