Nepal produced a memorable performance at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Afghanistan by five wickets in their Group A men's cricket clash at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on September 25.
Nepal's bowlers laid the foundation by restricting Afghanistan to 102/7 from 20 overs. Despite losing early wickets in the chase, Nepal remained composed and reached 103/5 in 17.2 overs to complete a significant victory with 16 balls remaining.
The result gives Nepal an excellent opportunity to finish at or near the top of Group A and strengthens their position in the race for the Asian Games 2026 quarter-finals.
Afghanistan vs Nepal Asian Games 2026: Match Summary
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Afghanistan vs Nepal, 4th Match, Group A |
| Tournament | Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket |
| Date | September 25, 2026 |
| Venue | Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan |
| Afghanistan | 102/7 (20 overs) |
| Nepal | 103/5 (17.2 overs) |
| Result | Nepal won by 5 wickets |
| Balls Remaining | 16 |
Afghanistan Elect to Bat First Against Nepal
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first, looking to build on their 48-run victory over hosts Japan in their opening Group A match.
Nepal, however, immediately put Afghanistan under pressure with disciplined spin bowling.
Lalit Rajbanshi Gives Nepal a Dream Start
Lalit Rajbanshi produced an outstanding opening spell that prevented Afghanistan from building momentum during the powerplay.
Hassan Eisakhil was dismissed without scoring before Mohammad Akram fell for two and Karim Janat departed for nine.
Afghanistan were reduced to 16/3, putting Nepal firmly in control of the contest.
Rajbanshi finished with excellent figures of 3/13 from four overs.
Faisal Shinozada and Najibullah Zadran Lead Afghanistan Recovery
After the early collapse, Faisal Shinozada and experienced batter Najibullah Zadran attempted to rebuild Afghanistan's innings.
Shinozada scored 30 from 33 balls, including two boundaries and a six, while Najibullah contributed 30 from 40 deliveries.
Their innings gave Afghanistan some stability, but Nepal's bowlers continued to control the scoring rate.
Kushal Bhurtel Takes Four Wickets
The biggest damage during the middle and later stages of Afghanistan's innings came from Kushal Bhurtel.
Bhurtel produced an outstanding spell of 4/21 from four overs, including a maiden.
He dismissed Faisal Shinozada before removing Mohammad Ishaq and Afghanistan captain Darwish Rasooli with consecutive deliveries.
Darwish was trapped lbw for a golden duck, leaving Afghanistan struggling at 65/6.
Nangeyalia Kharote Pushes Afghanistan Past 100
With Afghanistan in danger of being restricted below 100, Nangeyalia Kharote provided useful late runs.
He finished unbeaten on 17 from 15 balls, hitting three fours and helping Afghanistan reach 102/7 from their 20 overs.
Afghanistan Batting Scorecard Highlights
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Faisal Shinozada | 30 | 33 |
| Najibullah Zadran | 30 | 40 |
| Nangeyalia Kharote | 17* | 15 |
| Karim Janat | 9 | 9 |
| Mohammad Ishaq | 7 | 10 |
Nepal Need 103 to Beat Afghanistan
Nepal entered the chase requiring 103 runs from 120 balls.
The target appeared modest, but Afghanistan's bowling attack ensured that Nepal could not simply cruise through the chase without pressure.
Nepal Lose Both Openers Early
Nepal's chase did not begin smoothly, with both opening batters departing cheaply.
Afghanistan attempted to turn the low-scoring match back in their favour, but Nepal's middle order absorbed the pressure.
Sundeep Jora Steadies Nepal's Chase
Sundeep Jora played an important role in stabilising Nepal after the early wickets.
He kept the scoreboard moving while wickets fell at the other end, helping Nepal remain ahead of the required scoring rate.
His contribution allowed the experienced middle order to take greater control of the chase.
Rohit Paudel Takes Control
Former Nepal captain Rohit Paudel produced the most important batting contribution of the chase.
Paudel remained unbeaten on 33 from 32 deliveries, playing a composed innings under pressure.
Rather than taking unnecessary risks against Afghanistan's attack, he rotated the strike effectively before accelerating as Nepal moved closer to the target.
Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee Guide Nepal Towards Victory
With Nepal requiring another 47 runs, Rohit Paudel was joined by captain Dipendra Singh Airee.
The experienced pair kept the chase under control through intelligent strike rotation and carefully selected boundaries.
Airee contributed 15 runs before being dismissed with Nepal needing only one more run for victory.
Paudel's Back-to-Back Fours Break Afghanistan's Resistance
One of the decisive moments came during the 16th over when Rohit Paudel hit Karim Janat for consecutive boundaries.
Those fours reduced the target to single figures and effectively removed most of the remaining pressure from Nepal's chase.
Paudel then struck another boundary from Abdullah Ahmadzai at the end of the 17th over to bring the scores level.
Nepal Complete Five-Wicket Victory
Dipendra Singh Airee was dismissed from the first delivery of the 18th over while attempting to finish the match with a big shot.
Gulsan Jha then came to the crease and scored the winning single from the next delivery.
Nepal reached 103/5 in 17.2 overs, completing a five-wicket victory with 16 balls remaining.
Afghanistan vs Nepal Final Score
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 102/7 | 20 |
| Nepal | 103/5 | 17.2 |
Result: Nepal won by five wickets with 16 balls remaining.
Key Performers: Afghanistan vs Nepal
| Player | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Kushal Bhurtel | Nepal | 4/21 |
| Lalit Rajbanshi | Nepal | 3/13 |
| Rohit Paudel | Nepal | 33* |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | Nepal | 15 |
| Faisal Shinozada | Afghanistan | 30 |
| Najibullah Zadran | Afghanistan | 30 |
Only Nepal's Second T20I Win Over Afghanistan
The result carries additional historical significance for Nepal. According to Cricbuzz, it is only their second victory over Afghanistan in men's T20 internationals.
The win therefore represents an important moment for Nepal cricket, particularly given the stakes of the Asian Games group stage.
What Does Nepal's Victory Mean for Group A?
Group A consists of Afghanistan, Nepal and hosts Japan.
Afghanistan began the competition by defeating Japan by 48 runs, but Nepal's victory over Afghanistan has significantly changed the group situation.
Nepal will face Japan in their remaining Group A match on September 26.
The final Group A standings will determine which team qualifies as the group winner and which advances as runner-up.
Why Group A Matters for India
The outcome of Group A is particularly important for defending champions India.
India received direct entry into the Asian Games 2026 knockout stage and are scheduled to face the Group A runner-up in the second quarter-final on September 28.
The final Afghanistan-Nepal-Japan standings will therefore determine India's first opponent in their men's Asian Games title defence.
Nepal Make a Strong Asian Games 2026 Statement
Nepal could hardly have asked for a stronger start to their Asian Games 2026 campaign.
Their bowlers controlled Afghanistan from the opening overs before Rohit Paudel and the experienced middle order ensured that the chase did not slip away.
Afghanistan entered the contest after comfortably defeating Japan, but Nepal's disciplined spin bowling exposed their batting vulnerabilities and transformed the Group A qualification race.
With Japan next, Nepal now have an opportunity to build on one of their most significant recent T20I victories and secure their place in the Asian Games knockout stage.
