Kushal Bhurtel Fires Record Century as Nepal Crush Malaysia with 276-Run Target

Nepal delivered one of its most commanding T20 batting performances yet, setting Malaysia a towering target of 276 runs in the Asian Games Men's Cricket Qualifier in Singapore. The total of 275/7 in 20 overs was built on a blistering century from Kushal Bhurtel and a valuable half-century from Aasif Sheikh.

The innings underlined Nepal's growing depth and confidence in limited-overs cricket, with the batting lineup maintaining pressure from the opening overs and never letting Malaysia settle. Bhurtel's landmark knock provided the backbone of the innings, while Sheikh's support ensured Nepal kept the scoreboard racing deep into the innings.

A new benchmark for Nepal

The 275-run effort represents Nepal's highest-ever T20 International total against Malaysia, surpassing their previous best from 2022. In practical terms, the innings was more than just a big score - it was a statement of intent from a side looking to assert itself in the qualifier stage.

For Nepal, the performance also reflects how far the team has come in building explosive top-order firepower. Posting a total this large in a T20 match is rare anywhere in international cricket, and doing so in a pressure tournament adds extra significance.

Bhurtel leads the charge

Kushal Bhurtel played the defining innings of the match, bringing up a century in style and setting the tone for Nepal's assault. His ability to combine power with control gave Nepal the platform to accelerate throughout the innings.

Aasif Sheikh complemented that aggression with a composed half-century, helping Nepal turn a strong start into a record-breaking total. Together, the pair made sure Malaysia faced an uphill chase before a single ball of the reply was bowled.

What the result means

With such a daunting target on the board, Nepal placed itself in a strong position in the group standings battle. The result also adds momentum to a campaign where net run rate and dominant wins can prove decisive.

Beyond the numbers, the innings sends a clear message: Nepal has the batting strength to post match-defining totals against associate-level opposition and continue pushing for bigger ambitions on the international stage.