Nepal made a perfect start to their ICC T20 World Cup Asia–EAP Qualifiers campaign in Oman, defeating Kuwait by 58 runs in their opening match.
After losing the toss, Nepal were sent in to bat first and posted 141/7 in 20 overs. Opener Kushal Bhurtel anchored the innings with a superb 66 off 56 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. Dipendra Singh Airee added 20 runs, while Gulshan Jha provided late fireworks, smashing 20 off just 6 balls with three consecutive sixes in the 19th over.
For Kuwait, Anudeep Chentamara took 2 wickets for 22 runs and Naveenraj Thadathil claimed 2 for 40.
Chasing 142, Kuwait faltered early and were bowled out for 83 runs in 18.1 overs. Clinto Anto top-scored with 26, and Yasin Patel contributed 19.
Nepal’s bowling attack was clinical — Lalit Rajbanshi (2/17), Sandeep Lamichhane (2/22), and captain Rohit Paudel (2/9) led the charge, while Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, and Kushal Bhurtel picked one wicket each.
With this emphatic win, Nepal have taken a major step toward the Super Six stage. Their next challenge will be against Japan on Friday.