Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Kuwait clinched the title of the 2025 Hong Kong International T20I Series with a narrow three-run victory over Nepal in a thrilling final at Mission Road Ground, Hong Kong, on Sunday.
Batting first, Kuwait posted 174 for seven. In reply, Nepal was bowled out for 171 with three balls to spare.
Nepal, needing 11 runs in the final over with a wicket in hand, saw a glimmer of hope when Basir Ahamad struck a six off a no-ball bowled by Kuwait’s Anudpeep Chenthamara. However, Chenthamara responded with a dot on the free hit and bowled another dot, then had Ahamad caught by Clinto Anto to seal a dramatic win for Kuwait.
Earlier, Kuwait made a flying start with the bat, putting on 49 runs for the first wicket in just 4.2 overs. At 127/3 in 11.5 overs, it looked set for a massive total, but Nepal pulled things back by taking wickets at regular intervals, eventually restricting Kuwait to 174/7. Opener Ravija Sandaruwan top-scored with a 36-ball 63, while Clinto Anto added 26, Usmal Patel made 23, and Meet Bhavsar chipped in with 16. Captain Mohammad Aslam remained unbeaten on 13.
Sompal Kami and Nandan Yadav each took two wickets for Nepal, while Karan KC and Kushal Bhurtel also took one wicket each.
Nepal’s chase got off to a shaky start with opener Kushal Bhurtel dismissed for 2 in the third over. Aasif Sheikh contributed 21, but quick dismissals of Rohit Paudel (7), Kushal Malla (0), and Dipendra Singh Airee (0) piled pressure on the batting side. Basir Ahamad kept Nepal in the hunt with a blistering 80 off 43 balls, while Nandan Yadav added a late flourish with a rapid 37 off 14, but it proved insufficient.
Anudpeep Chenthamara picked three wickets for Kuwait, while Yasin Patel and Naveenraj Rajendran claimed two each, and Mohamed Shafeeq and Mohammad Aslam took one apiece.
Earlier in the day, hosts Hong Kong edged Qatar by one run in the third-place play-off.
