Nepal Triumphs Over Afghanistan by Five Wickets in Asian Games Clash

Nishin, September 25 (Daily Kiran) : Nepal’s cricket team achieved a notable victory against Afghanistan, winning by five wickets in a Group A match at the Asian Games 2026 held at Korogi Sports Club on September 25.

Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. However, their innings got off to a rocky start as their top three batsmen struggled to make significant contributions. Mohammad Akram managed only 2 runs, while Hasan Isakhel was dismissed without scoring. Karim Janat added just 9 runs before being out.

The middle order saw Faisal Shilozada and Najibullah Zadran stabilize the innings, each scoring 30 runs. Their efforts helped Afghanistan reach a total of 102 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs. Nangealiya Kharoti chipped in with an unbeaten 17 runs from the eighth position.

For Nepal, Lalit Rajwanshi took 3 wickets, while Kushal Bhurtel claimed 4, putting pressure on the Afghan batting lineup.

Chasing a target of 103 runs, Nepal faced early challenges, losing two wickets for just 12 runs and three for 31. However, a steady performance from Sandip Jora, who scored 34 runs off 35 balls, and former captain Rohit Paudel, who remained not out with 33 runs from 32 balls, guided the team to victory in 17.2 overs. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee also contributed with 15 runs.

Looking ahead, Nepal’s next match is scheduled against Japan on Saturday. A win in that game would secure their place at the top of the group and advance them to the quarter-finals. This match marked the fifth T20 encounter between Nepal and Afghanistan, with Nepal now boasting two victories against their rivals since their first win in Chattogram in 2014.