Nepal Storms to Top of Super Six with 38-Run Win Over Oman

Nepal delivered a commanding performance to defeat hosts Oman by 38 runs in the Super Six stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier 2025, claiming the top spot in the standings with 8 points. Powered by Kushal Bhurtel’s stellar batting and Gulsan Jha’s all-round brilliance, Nepal solidified their status as frontrunners for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which both teams have already qualified for.

Nepal’s Batting Sets a Formidable Target

Winning the toss and opting to bat, Nepal posted 151/9 in 20 overs. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh laid a strong foundation, amassing 52 runs in the powerplay and a 61-run opening stand. Sheikh fell for 24 in the 8th over to Nadim Khan, who struck again to dismiss captain Rohit Paudel (1) and Dipendra Singh Airee (2). Young batter Kushal Malla, celebrating a milestone of 1,000 T20I runs (becoming Nepal’s fifth player to achieve this), scored just 7 before Nadim claimed his fourth wicket. Bhurtel anchored the innings with a superb 69 off 51 balls (7×4, 1×6), his 13th T20I fifty, supported by a 40-run stand with Adil Alam (16). Gulsan Jha’s explosive 18 off 10 (2×6) boosted Nepal’s total. Oman’s Nadim Khan shone with 4/20, while Sufyan Mohammad and Jiten Ramanandi took 2 wickets each.

Oman’s Batting Crumbles Under Nepal’s Pressure

Chasing 152, Oman struggled against Nepal’s relentless bowling, collapsing to 113/9 in 20 overs. Oman’s innings faltered early, losing 3 wickets for 27 runs. Captain Jatinder Singh (14) was caught by Airee off Sompal Kami, followed by Hamad Mirza (4) falling to Nandan Yadav. Airee ran out Amir Kaleem (1), and Sandeep Lamichhane dismissed Aryan Bisht (11). Gulsan Jha struck a crucial blow, bowling Nadim Khan (1), leaving Oman at 41/5 after 9.3 overs. A 33-run stand between Vinayak Shukla (32) and Sufyan Mohammad (9) offered brief resistance, but Jha’s double strike in the 14th over—removing Mohammad Nadim (25) and Ramanandi (0)—sealed Oman’s fate. Jha finished with 3/31, supported by Kami (2 wickets), Yadav (2), and Lamichhane (1). Shakil Ahmed (8*) and Sah Faisal (3*) remained unbeaten but couldn’t close the gap.

Key Moments

• Bhurtel’s Masterclass: His 69 guided Nepal to a competitive total.

• Jha’s All-Round Impact: Three wickets and a quickfire 18 made him the standout performer.

• Oman’s Early Collapse: Losing 5 wickets for 41 runs derailed their chase.

Super Six Standings and Next Steps

Nepal’s fourth consecutive win propels them to 8 points, leading the Super Six standings, while Oman, with 6 points, slip to second. Both teams have secured qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup (February 7–March 8, 2026, in India and Sri Lanka). Nepal will face Samoa in their final Super Six match, aiming to maintain their unbeaten run and clinch the qualifier title.