Bhurtel leads Nepal past ACT for second Top End T20 win

Darwin, 26 August 2026: Captain Kushal Bhurtel produced an all-round performance as Nepal defeated Australian Capital Territory by four wickets in the Top End T20 Series on Wednesday, securing its second victory in four matches.

Bhurtel first took 3-9 from two overs to help restrict ACT to 140-9 after Nepal won the toss and elected to field at Marrara Cricket Ground. He then anchored the chase with 61 from 47 balls as Nepal reached 144-6 in 19.2 overs.

Nepal lost Trit Raj Das for a duck in the opening over before Mayan Yadav and Bhurtel steadied the innings. Yadav made 21 from 17 balls before falling at 39-2.

Kushal Malla struggled for fluency and was dismissed for six, but Bhurtel continued to keep Nepal on course. The captain struck five fours and a six in his 47-ball innings before being run out with the score at 102 in the 15th over.

Pawan Sarraf then took control of the chase, scoring an unbeaten 29 from 22 deliveries. Lokesh Bam contributed 12 before ACT briefly raised hopes of a comeback by removing Bam and Narayan Joshi late in the innings.

Sarraf, however, stayed composed and, with Bipin Khatri unbeaten on three, guided Nepal past the target with four deliveries remaining.

Earlier, ACT recovered from 46-4 through Dylan Hunter, who top-scored with 44 from 35 balls. Hunter added important middle-order runs with captain Nic Broes and Jake Smith as ACT reached 126-5 in the 17th over.

Nepal’s bowlers then struck repeatedly at the death. Bhurtel removed Smith, Hunter and Esam Rahman in a six-ball span, while Yuvraj Khatri finished with 2-24. Sarraf and Shahab Alam also claimed a wicket apiece.

Zak Keogh was ACT’s best bowler in the chase, taking 3-20 from four overs, but Nepal held its nerve to complete the victory.

Scores in brief:

Nepal won by four wickets with four balls remaining

Australian Capital Territory 140-9 in 20 overs (Dylan Hunter 44, Nic Broes 19, Ansh Tiwary 19; Kushal Bhurtel 3-9, Yuvraj Khatri 2-24)

Nepal 144-6 in 19.2 overs (Kushal Bhurtel 61, Pawan Sarraf 29 not out, Mayan Yadav 21; Zak Keogh 3-20, Jeet Mehta 2-22)