Nepal defeated Kuwait by 58 runs in their Group B match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier at Al Amerat on Wednesday.

Batting first after Kuwait won the toss and elected to field, Nepal posted 141 for seven in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Kushal Bhurtel anchored the innings with a composed 66 off 56 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. Captain Rohit Paudel contributed 16 off 15 balls, while Dipendra Singh Airee and Gulsan Jha scored 20 runs each. Jha provided late momentum with three sixes in just six deliveries.

For Kuwait, Naveenraj Rajendran and Anudeep Chenthamara took two wickets each, while Aqif Farooq and Mohammed Aslam claimed one apiece.

In reply, Kuwait were bowled out for 83 runs in 18.1 overs. Clinto Anto top-scored with 26 off 23 balls, including two sixes, while Yasin Patel made 19 from 27. The rest of the batting order collapsed against Nepal’s varied bowling attack. Ravija Sandaruwan and Usman Patel fell early, leaving Kuwait struggling at 21 for three inside five overs.

Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane took two wickets each, tightening the pressure through the middle overs. Captain Paudel also struck twice in a short spell, while Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav and Bhurtel claimed one wicket apiece. Lamichhane’s control and Bhurtel’s breakthroughs ensured Kuwait never recovered from their early setbacks.

Bhurtel’s all-round performance — scoring 66 and taking 1 for 6 — earned him the Player of the Match award. The win gave Nepal two crucial points and a significant boost to their net run rate as they strengthened their position in Group B of the regional qualifier in Oman.