On the morning of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final, fours and sixes rained at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Tim David's birth country as Nepal batters scored 313/2 against China. In the Asian Games Men's Qualifier clash, Nepal batters smashed 29 sixes to get their side to 313/2, becoming the first team to breach the 300-run mark twice in T20Is. After Kushal Bhurtel starred with a 43-ball 129, Nepal bowlers were clinical in their approach, bowling out China for 92 and registering a 221-run win at Singapore National Cricket Ground.
Nepal's 313/2 is the third highest score in T20I history. The top spot belongs to Zimbabwe with 344/4 against Gambia in 2024. It is followed by Nepal posting 314/3 against Mongolia in Asian Games 2023 match. Germany and England are other two teams to post a total in excess of 300 in T20Is. The 221-run win is the seventh-biggest in T20Is (by margin of runs).
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Bhurtel’s 6 consecutive sixes and 129-run knock
In the opening game of Asian Games Men's T20I Qualifier 2026, China skipper Tian Senqun won the toss and opted to bowl first. Senqun started with a one-run over. In the fourth over, Ma Qiancheng dismissed Aasif Sheikh for a 10-ball 11. After powerplay overs Nepal were 48/1. Bhurtel unleashed carnage in the middle overs. He reached his fifty from 23 deliveries in the eighth over. In the ninth over, Bhurtel hit Chen Zhuo for six consecutive sixes. Kushal Malla joined the party and started dealing in boundaries. In the 12th over, Bhurtel reached his century from 35 balls.
Malla-Paudel dismantle China bowlers
The six-hitting carnage continued in the middle overs. But, in the 14th over, Deng Jinqi broke the second-wicket partnership with Bhurtel's wicket. The opener hit 16 sixes and five fours in his 43-ball 129. In the next over, Malla reached his fifty with a six off 32 balls. Rohit Paudel joined Malla in the middle and continued to the attack on China bowlers. Malla and Paudel wreaked havoc in the slog overs. In the final over, Rohit hit Senqun for a four and four consecutive sixes. He remained unbeaten for a 21-ball 69 as Nepal posted 313/2 On the other end, Malla scored 85 runs from 47 balls.
No intent in run chase
Not a single boundary was scored in China's first four overs. In the third over, Sompal Kami struck twice to dismiss Du Jianyao and Qiancheng. After powerplay overs, China were 24/2. Du Jianhao hit three fours in his knock before falling to Sandeep Lamichhane in the eighth over. In his next over, the leg-spinner got the wicket Senqun who scored 12 runs from 17 balls. Shenjian Zheng hit the first six of the innings in the 11th over. In the 12th over, Zong Yuechao got run out. China lost half the side for 52.
Lamichhane stunned by Chinese batter, big loss for rookies
In the 14th over, Zheng showed aggression and hit Lamichhane for a four and three consecutive sixes. In the next over, he was run out by the leg-spinner for a 15-ball 31. Wickets kept falling in the slog overs. Nandan Yadav picked one whereas Malla struck twice in the 18th over. Chen Zhuo yue tried to play out all the overs but he got bowled by Malla for a 25-ball 9. China were bowled out for 92 in 19.2 overs.