Nepal defeated Afghanistan by five wickets in their Asian Games cricket opener, ending a 12-year wait for a win over Afghanistan at the continental event.
Chasing a modest target of 103, Nepal reached 103 for five in 17.2 overs to secure their first win of the tournament. The result also marked Nepal’s first T20 victory over Afghanistan since the two sides met at the 2014 T20 World Cup.
The win carries particular significance because Afghanistan defeated Nepal in the quarter-finals of the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, ending Nepal’s campaign by eight runs.
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first, but Nepal’s bowlers quickly put pressure on the opposition.
Lalit Rajbanshi struck early, removing Afghanistan’s first three wickets as the team slipped to 16 for three. Faisal Shinozada and Najibullah Zadran then added 39 runs to stabilise the innings.
Their partnership was eventually broken and Afghanistan lost further wickets. Shinozada and Zadran both scored 30, while Nangeyalia Kharote remained unbeaten on 17.
Afghanistan finished on 102 for seven from their 20 overs.
Kushal Bhurtel was Nepal’s leading wicket-taker with four wickets for 21 runs, while Rajbanshi finished with three for 13. Their combined effort prevented Afghanistan from building a larger total.
Nepal’s chase did not begin smoothly.
Kushal Bhurtel was dismissed for a duck from the second ball of the innings, followed shortly by Aasif Sheikh, who made two runs from four deliveries.
Sundeep Jora then helped settle the innings with a patient 34 from 35 balls. Captain Rohit Paudel provided further stability, remaining unbeaten on 33 according to the ICC match report.
Dipendra Singh Airee contributed 15 before being dismissed with Nepal only one run away from victory. Gulshan Jha then scored the winning run as Nepal completed the chase with 16 balls remaining.
The victory also closed a chapter dating back to the 2014 Asian Games.
Nepal had reached the quarter-finals in Incheon before Afghanistan defeated them by eight runs. Nepal later defeated Afghanistan by nine runs at the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, but Friday’s match was the first T20 meeting between the teams at an Asian Games since that quarter-final.
The latest result gives Nepal an important start in Group A and keeps their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
Nepal will play Japan in their next Group A match on Saturday.
Afghanistan had already defeated Japan by 48 runs in their opening match, meaning the group standings will depend on the results of Nepal’s remaining fixture and the teams’ net run rates.
For Nepal, the immediate task is to carry the momentum from Friday’s disciplined bowling performance and composed chase into the match against the hosts.
The Asian Games cricket competition continues through October 3, with the knockout stages following the group matches.
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