Basir-Nandan stand not enough as Kuwait edge past Nepal in a thriller

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Apr 13, 2025

Nepal's unbeaten run in the Hong Kong T20I Quadrangular Series came to an end in the final as Kuwait held their nerve for a historic 3-run victory at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground on Sunday, their first-ever win over Nepal in T20 internationals.

Put in to bat after Rohit Paudel won the toss for the fourth consecutive time, Kuwait came out blazing, putting up 71 runs in the powerplay, Nepal's worst bowling performance in the first six overs in T20Is. Ravija Sandaruwan set the tone with a blistering 63 off 36 balls, hammering six fours and four sixes before becoming Karan KC’s 99th T20I wicket. From 120 for 2 in the 11th over,

Kuwait lost momentum in the back end, managing just 54 runs in the final nine overs to finish on 174 for 7.

Nandan Yadav, continuing his impressive debut series, returned with 2 for 34, while Sompal Kami also bagged two wickets. Karan KC and Kushal Bhurtel chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Nepal’s chase got off to a horror start, reduced to 38 for 4 inside the powerplay. The collapse included the rare sight of Dipendra Singh Airee falling for a duck, his first in 66 T20I innings. With the top and middle order blown away, the match seemed out of reach at 92 for 8.

But Basir Ahamad and Nandan Yadav stitched together a record-breaking 72-run stand for the ninth wicket, the highest for Nepal in T20Is and fourth-highest overall in T20I history. Nandan was eventually dismissed for a 14-ball 37, clubbing four sixes and two fours before falling to Mohammad Shafeeq in the 19th over.

Needing 11 off the final over, Basir remained Nepal’s hope. Debutant Anudeep Chenthamara began with a waist-high no-ball, which Basir launched for six, swinging the momentum Nepal’s way. But the medium pacer held his nerve, delivering a dot on the free hit and following it with another dot before having Basir caught at cover for a magnificent 80 off 43 balls, an innings that featured eight fours and four sixes.

Anudeep returned with figures of 3 for 18 from 2.3 overs and was named Player of the Match. Naveenraj Rajendran and Yasin Patel took two wickets each, while captain Mohammad Aslam and Shafeeq claimed one apiece.