Xplorich
Nepal batter Kushal Bhurtel continued his extraordinary run of form at the Asian Games men’s cricket qualifiers, matching a rare world record with back-to-back T20I centuries just days after hammering six sixes in a single over.The explosive opener produced another breathtaking innings on Thursday as Nepal thrashed Malaysia by 167 runs to strengthen their push for a place in the tournament final.After Malaysia elected to field first, Bhurtel and wicketkeeper-batter Aasif Sheikh launched a ferocious assault at the top of the order. The pair added 134 runs for the opening wicket and raced to three figures before the completion of the seventh over. Nepal’s scoring rate barely slowed thereafter, with the side reaching a staggering 230 for 2 by the end of the 16th over.Aasif provided the early fireworks, smashing 68 from only 24 deliveries before Virandeep Singh eventually ended his innings. However, the spotlight soon belonged entirely to Bhurtel.The left-hander raced to his half-century in just 25 balls and required only another 19 deliveries to convert it into a hundred. He eventually walked back after a sensational knock of 126 from 54 balls, peppered with 14 boundaries and eight sixes.Powered by Bhurtel’s brilliance, Nepal piled up 275 runs before completing a dominant victory. Malaysia never threatened the target and were bowled out for just 108.The century carried added significance for Bhurtel. Having already struck a hundred against China in Nepal’s opening group fixture, he became only the 10th male cricketer in T20I history to register centuries in successive innings.The achievement places him alongside an exclusive group featuring players such as Rilee Rossouw, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma and Phil Salt.Bhurtel’s remarkable streak began in the tournament opener against China, where he produced one of the most destructive overs seen in international cricket. After reaching his fifty inside eight overs, he targeted left-arm spinner Chen Zhou Yue in the following over and launched all six deliveries for six, with most of the blows sailing straight back over the bowler’s head.Despite the heavy defeat, Malaysia had already secured qualification for the 2026 Asian Games after defeating China earlier in the competition. They will now face Hong Kong, the winners of Group B, in the semi-finals. Nepal, meanwhile, will take on Oman as they continue their quest for gold.For now, though, the tournament belongs to Bhurtel. In the space of four days, he has smashed six sixes in an over, scored consecutive T20I centuries and etched his name into the record books with one of the most explosive batting displays seen in associate cricket.
