KATHMANDU: Nepal posted a massive 275/7 against Malaysia in the Asian Games Men’s T20I Qualifier after a record opening stand from Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh on Thursday.
Sent in to bat first at the Singapore National Cricket Ground, Nepal raced to 95 runs in the powerplay. Bhurtel and Aasif then took the total to 134 in 8.4 overs.
Their 134-run stand is Nepal's highest partnership for the first wicket in T20Is. It broke the previous record of 127, also set by Bhurtel and Aasif against Kuwait in Hong Kong in 2025.
Aasif made 68 off 24 balls with five fours and seven sixes. Bhurtel went on to score 126 off 54 balls, hitting 14 fours and eight sixes.
Nepal also got a late push from captain Dipendra Singh Airee, who made 31 off 11 balls with one four and four sixes. Sundeep Jora scored 15, while Lokesh Bam added 10.
For Malaysia, Virandeep Singh took 3/22 from four overs. Syed Aziz and Vijay Unni picked up two wickets each.
