Jayasuriya, bowlers’ power Kingsmen to 31-run win over Nepal 'A'

Darwin, 27 August 2026: Shehan Jayasuriya struck a fluent 67 before Hyderabad Kingsmen Academy’s bowlers held their nerve to beat Nepal 'A' by 31 runs in the Top End T20 Series on Thursday.

Kingsmen posted 197-5 after being sent in at Gardens Oval and then dismissed Nepal for 166 in 19.2 overs. The victory was Kingsmen’s third in five matches, while Nepal slipped to its third defeat in five games.

Jayasuriya led the batting effort with 67 from 44 balls, hitting four fours and five sixes. He shared useful partnerships through the middle overs after Shayan Jahangir provided a quick start with 27 off 15 balls and Tayyab Arif made 23.

Milind Kumar added 25 before captain Hammad Azam and Ali Sheikh accelerated late in the innings. Azam finished unbeaten on 26 from 11 deliveries, while Sheikh struck 22 off 11 as Kingsmen reached 197.

Narayan Joshi was Nepal’s most successful bowler with 2-33.

Nepal’s chase suffered an immediate setback when Mayan Yadav was dismissed without scoring in the opening over. Trit Raj Das followed for 2, leaving Nepal under early pressure.

Kushal Bhurtel kept Nepal in the contest with 66 from 46 balls, including six fours and four sixes. Lokesh Bam provided support with a rapid 38 off 23 and the pair added 67 for the fifth wicket.

But Kingsmen broke through at crucial stages. Umer Khan removed Bhurtel in the 15th over before Usama Mir dismissed Bam, leaving Nepal 131-6.

Scott Kuggeleijn finished with 3-21 and Mir took 3-36, while Ali Sheikh claimed 2-30 as Nepal’s lower order failed to sustain the required scoring rate.

Nepal lost its final five wickets for 47 runs as Kingsmen completed a comfortable victory with four balls remaining.

Scores in brief:

Hyderabad Kingsmen Academy won by 31 runs

Hyderabad Kingsmen Academy 197-5 in 20 overs (Shehan Jayasuriya 67, Shayan Jahangir 27, Hammad Azam 26 not out; Narayan Joshi 2-33)

Nepal 'A' 166 all out in 19.2 overs (Kushal Bhurtel 66, Lokesh Bam 38; Scott Kuggeleijn 3-21, Usama Mir 3-36)