By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Oct 10, 2025 14:28 PM • 20 views
Al Amerat, October 10, 2025 — Nepal continued their winning momentum in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifier 2025 with a composed five-wicket victory over Japan at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1) on Friday. The win ensured Nepal finished the group stage unbeaten, further strengthening their credentials for a Super Six push in the race to the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
After opting to bowl first, Nepal restricted Japan to a modest 131 for 8 in their 20 overs, thanks to disciplined bowling and a clinical middle-overs squeeze. Despite a spirited half-century from Japan captain Kendel Fleming, who anchored the innings with a composed 50 off 41 balls, the rest of the batting lineup faltered under pressure. From a promising 97 for 2 at the end of 13 overs, Japan suffered a dramatic collapse, losing six wickets for just 34 runs. Only Benjamin Ito-Davis offered some late resistance with a few boundaries in the final overs.
Nepal's bowlers were impressive in patches. Dipendra Singh Airee and Sandeep Lamichhane applied the brakes in the middle overs, while the pace duo of Sompal Kami and Gulshan Jha cleaned up the tail efficiently. The collective effort restricted Japan to a below-par total on a batting-friendly surface.
In reply, Nepal began confidently through Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh, adding 33 runs in just four overs. However, Japan fought back with timely wickets — Shoma Slater dismissing Bhurtel for 21 was the first breakthrough that gave the Samurai Blue a glimmer of hope. The pressure intensified when captain Rohit Paudel and Kushal Malla departed in quick succession, leaving Nepal wobbling at 90 for 5 in the 13th over.
But the experience of Dipendra Singh Airee and the maturity of Gulshan Jha steadied the innings. The pair stitched together a crucial partnership, mixing calm singles with calculated aggression. Jha finished the game in style, smashing a six and a four in the 18th over to seal victory. Nepal ended at 132 for 5 in 18 overs, completing the chase with 12 balls to spare. Airee remained unbeaten on 22, while Jha's quickfire 27 off 17 balls underlined his growing stature as Nepal's dependable finisher. The win not only highlights Nepal's depth and composure under pressure but also their readiness to handle different match situations — a sign of maturity in the team's evolving T20 journey. For Japan, despite the defeat, there were positives in Fleming's leadership and Ito-Davis's late flourish, but the lack of partnerships in the middle overs remains a concern. With this result, Nepal and Japan both advance to the Super Six stage, while Kuwait bow out of the competition.
Match Summary
Japan: 131/8 (20 overs) — K. Fleming 50 (41), B. Ito-Davis 22; D.S. Airee 2/25, G. Jha 2/20
Nepal: 132/5 (18 overs) — G. Jha 27 (17), D.S. Airee 22 (19), R. Paudel 18 (19); S. Slater 1/25, S. Ravichandran 1/23
Player of the match -Gulshan Jha
