Rohit Paudel and Sundeep Jora Guide Nepal to Five-Wicket Win Over Afghanistan at Asian Games

Nepal beat Afghanistan by 5 wickets in the 4th Match of Group A at the 2026 Asian Games, chasing down 103 with 16 balls to spare at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.

Put in to bat, Afghanistan lost both openers cheaply before Faisal Shinozada and Najibullah Zadran both made 30 to rebuild the innings. Nangeyalia Kharoti chipped in with an unbeaten 17 late on to push the total to 102 for 7. Kushal Bhurtel was the pick of the Nepal bowlers with figures of 4 for 21, and Lalit Rajbanshi backed him up with 3 for 13.

Nepal's chase also stumbled early, losing two wickets inside the powerplay. Sundeep Jora steadied things with 34 off 35 balls before a run-out ended his innings, and a second run-out accounted for Kushal Malla. That brought captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Rohit Paudel together with 47 still needed. The pair added the bulk of the remaining runs before Airee fell in sight of victory, but Paudel saw Nepal home unbeaten on 33.

The result gives Nepal 2 points from their opening game and hands Afghanistan their first defeat of the tournament after beating Japan in the opener. Both sides return to action at Korogi Sports Park as the group stage continues.