AFG vs NEP Highlights, Asian Games 2026: Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Paudel lead Nepal's five-wicket win over Afghanistan

GAM OVER! Nepal overcome a few hiccups here and there to beat Afghanistan by five wickets, and with 16 deliveries to spare. Rohit Paudel remained unbeaten on 33, but credit must go to Sundeep Jora as well, who scored 34 runs off 35 deliveries.

Dipendra Singh Airee scored 15 runs from 18 deliveries.

Nepal are just two boundaries away from sealing this match, with eight runs needed from 24 deliveries. 12 runs come from Karim Janat's over.

Nepal 95/4 after 16 overs (Target 103)

Despite a few hiccups here and there, Nepal seem to have found their way back into the chase. Nine runs come off Nangeyalia Kharoti's fourth over as he finishes with figures of 0/30.

Nepal 83/4 after 15 overs (Target 103)

Just five runs come off Arab Gul Momand's third over, but Afghanistan will need at least one or two more quick wickets.

Rohit Paudel (11*) and Dipendra Szingh Airee (8*) have forged 15 runs so far for the fifth wicket.

Nepal 73/4 (13.3 overs; Target 103)

OUT! Things go from bad to worse for Nepal as Sundeep Johra is run-out at the strikers' end. Jora set off for a quick single, but he soon realised there wasn't scope for a run. He immediately began running back to the crease, but fell short as Afghanistan's wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq completed the run-out.

Nepal 56/4 after 10 overs (Target 103)

OUT! Nepal have lost their third wicket as Kushal Malla departs. Malla is run-out at the striker's end after Sundeep Jora, the batter on strike, hit towards short fine and both batters set off for a single.

Nepal 33/3 after 7 overs (Target 103)

Nepal will hope that there aren't any more slip-ups as Sundeep Jora and Kushal Malla lead recovery. The duo have forged 17 runs so far for the third wicket. That is also the end of the powerplay.

Nepal 29/2 (6 overs; Target 103)

OUT! Both of Nepal's openers are back in the hut as Aasif Sheikh departs.

Sheikh was looking to go big over mid-on, but eventually found Afghanistan skipper Darwish Rasooli with the catch.

Nepal 14/2 (3.2 overs; Target 103)

Sundeep Jora and Aasif Sheikh will look to lead Nepal's recovery after having lost Kushal Bhurtel very early in the run chase. On paper, this would have seemed like a straightforward run chase, but so far that outcome has been anything but.

Afghanistan are doing a pretty good job to keep Nepal's run rate in check.

Nepal 12/1 after 3 overs

OUT!Faridoon Dawoodzai strikes early for Afghanistan as he removes Kushal Bhurtel. Bhurtel starred with the ball earlier, but is unable to continue that kind of form into his batting. He is caught by Najibullah Zadran at cover as he takes a stunning catch.

Nepal 0/1 (0.3 overs; Target 103)

Nepal have restricted Afghanistan to 102/7 from 20 overs after the Afghans won the toss and opted to bat first. Both Najibullah Zadran and Faisal Shinozada scored 30 runs each. Kushal Bhurtel was the pick of Nepal's bowlers with figures of 4/21 whereas Lalit Rajbanshi picked figures of 3/13.

Nepal need 103 runs to win.

OUT! Najibullah Zadran's resistance is now over as Kushal Bhurtel sees him off for 30 runs. Zadran is caught by Karan KC at long-on.

Afghanistan 95/7 after 19 overs

Nine runs come off Rohit Paudel's second over as Afghanistan look set for a respectable total at least, given the situation they were in once.

Najibullah Zadran is still going strong as he is unbeaten on 22. Afghanistan would be somewhat happy with at least 20-25 runs in the next two overs.

Afghanistan 87/6 after 18 overs

Kushal Bhurtel strikes twice in the same over as Afghanistan lose Mohammad Ishaq and their skipper Darwish Rasooli. Najibullah Zadran, though, is still unbeaten on 14 runs.

Afghanistan 65/6 after 15 overs

OUT! Afghanistan lose their fourth wicket as Faisal Shinozada departs. The 39-run partnership between Shinozada and Najibullah Zadran is broken as Kushal Bhurtel strikes, with Dipendra Singh Airee taking a catch at mid-off.

Afghanistan 60/4 after 13 overs

Ten runs come from the 10th over of Afghanistan's innings bowled by Dipendra Singh Airee. Afghanistan needed an over like this after having lost three quick wickets early on.

Faisal Shinozada slams a maximum over wide long-on after going down on his knee.

Afghanistan 44/3 after 10 overs

Right. The task has been cut out for Najibullah Zadran (5*) and Faizal Shinozada (12*), who will look to forge a strong partnership after Afghanistan's triple blow early on in the game.

Afghanistan 29/3 after 8 overs

OUT! It is a triple blow for Afghanistan as Karim Janat has been dismissed. Janat looks to defend on this occasion, but gets undone by the straighter delivery from Lalit Rajbanshi, and the stumps are dismantled.

Rajbanshi is running riot right now for Nepal.

Afghanistan 17/3 (5 overs)

Afghanistan have sustained a double blow after electing to bat against Nepal, with Hassan Elsakhil and Mohammad Akram being dismissed for single figures. Lalit Rajbanshi struck for Nepal on both occassions. While Elsakhil was dismissed for a two-ball duck, Akram managed to score just two runs from eight deliveries.

Afghanistan 14/2 after 3 overs

Afghanistan: Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Karim Janat, Darwish Rasooli(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq(w), Faisal Shinozada, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Nangeyalia Kharoti, Arab Gul Momand.

Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh(w), Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee(c), Kushal Malla, Gulsan Jha, Sundeep Jora, Lokesh Bam, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi.