Kuwait clinches T20 International Series title with 3-run win over Nepal

KATHMANDU: Kuwait triumphed over Nepal by a narrow margin of 3 runs to claim the title of the four-nation T20 International series.

Nepal’s poor batting performance was the key factor in their defeat, despite a commendable effort from Basir Ahmad, who played a standout innings.

Ahmad was supported by Nandan Yadav, but beyond them, the rest of the team failed to contribute significantly with the bat.

Chasing a target of 175 runs, Nepal fell short, finishing with 171 runs after 19.3 overs, losing all their wickets.

The match started poorly for Nepal, as they were reduced to 28 runs for the loss of 4 wickets.

Kushal Bhurtel made just 3 runs, Ashif Sheikh scored 21 runs, while Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee were dismissed without scoring.

As the wickets tumbled, no other batsman managed to steady the innings.

Captain Rohit Paudel was dismissed for just 7 runs. Sompal Kami (4 runs), Gulshan Jha (9 runs), and Karan KC (4 runs) followed suit, leaving Nepal’s chances of victory hanging by a thread.

At one point, Nepal had lost 8 wickets for just 92 runs. However, Basir Ahmad and Nandan Yadav formed a vital partnership, adding 72 runs for the ninth wicket and bringing the team closer to the target.

Nandan played aggressively, scoring 37 runs off 18 balls before being dismissed. By then, Nepal had reached 164 runs, with 11 runs required from the final over to win.

In the last over, Nepal needed 11 runs, but a no-ball from Kuwaiti bowler Undip Chinthamar left Nepal with a glimmer of hope.

Basir smashed a six on the next delivery, but he was dismissed on the following ball. Nepal ultimately fell short, losing by just 3 runs.

Basir Ahmad’s explosive innings of 80 runs off 43 balls, including 8 fours and 4 sixes, was the highlight of Nepal’s chase, but it wasn’t enough to secure victory.

For Kuwait, Undip Chinthamar was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets, while Yasin Patel and Naveen Rajendran each took 2 wickets.

Earlier, Nepal won the toss and elected to field. Kuwait set a target of 175 runs, finishing with 174/7 in their 20 overs. Openers Ravija Sandaruwan and Clinto Anto gave Kuwait a strong start, putting on 49 runs for the first wicket.

Anto was dismissed for 26 runs by Nandan Yadav, who also claimed the second wicket, removing Mith Bhavsar for 16 runs.

Kuwait’s middle order faltered, but Ravija Sandaruwan anchored the innings with a blistering 63 runs off 36 balls, which included 6 fours and 4 sixes.

He was dismissed by Karan KC. Following his departure, Kuwait’s lower order failed to capitalize, with Bilal Tahir (9) run out and Usman Patel (23) being dismissed by Kushal Bhurtel. Kuwait finished their innings with the lower order falling quickly, with Mohammad Aslam remaining unbeaten on 13.

In the bowling department, Nandan Yadav took 2 wickets for 25 runs in his 4 overs, while Sompal Kami also claimed 2 wickets for 26 runs. Karan KC and Kushal Bhurtel both took one wicket each.

Nepal had earlier beaten Qatar by 8 wickets and Kuwait by 6 wickets in the group stages. Kuwait, on the other hand, had defeated Hong Kong by 4 wickets and Qatar by 6 wickets in their matches.

Despite the strong fightback from Basir Ahmad, Nepal’s batting collapse was their undoing, as Kuwait walked away with the series title.