DARWIN - Narayan Joshi claimed three wickets for eight runs as Nepal A defeated Hobart Hurricanes Academy by 39 runs to register their first victory of the 2026 Top End T20 Series at Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin on Monday.
After being asked to bat, Nepal A made 154 for 8 from their 20 overs. The bowlers then dismissed Hobart Hurricanes Academy for 115 in 18.3 overs.
Joshi led the defence with 3 for 8 from two overs, including two wickets in the 18th over as the Hurricanes lost their final five wickets for seven runs.
Shahab Alam returned 2 for 17 from 3.3 overs, while Pawan Sarraf claimed 2 for 16 from four. Bipin Khatri conceded only 15 runs from his four overs and took one wicket.
Kushal Bhurtel had earlier top-scored for Nepal A with 39 from 34 balls, hitting six fours. He added a fifty-run second-wicket partnership with Opener Mayan Yadav after Trit Raj Das was dismissed for 10 in the second over.
Mayan struck four boundaries in his 31 from 25 balls before Rafael MacMillan removed him with Nepal A on 67 in the ninth over.
Bhurtel and Anil Kumar Sah kept the innings moving, taking the score to 97 before Bhurtel fell to Bradley Hope. Anil contributed 28 from 21 deliveries, including one four and two sixes.
Lokesh Bam remained unbeaten after smashing 20 from 16 balls as Nepal A reached 154 for 8. MacMillan was the pick of the Hurricanes bowlers with 3 for 18 from four overs, while Marcus Bean took 2 for 33.
Hobart began the chase steadily, reaching 68 for 1 during the 10th over. Nitesh Samuel led the response with 37 from 32 balls, while Nivethan Radhakrishnan contributed 20 from 21.
Sarraf's dismissal of Samuel triggered Nepal A’s recovery. Hobart subsequently slipped from 68 for 1 to 84 for 5 as Bipin, Joshi and Sarraf struck in quick succession.
Tim Ward attempted to revive the chase with 23 from 18 balls, but his run-out in the 17th over left the Hurricanes on 108 for 6. Joshi then removed Caelan Maladay and Bean before Shahab bowled Lachlan Clarke to complete the victory.
Nepal A had lost their opening two matches against Northern Territory Strike and Bangladesh High Performance. They will next face Australian Capital Territory on Wednesday, August 26.
