A Historic Win and a New Era for Nepali Cricket
Kathmandu, May 16 — Kushal Bhurtel made history on Saturday with an unbeaten knock of 120 off 118 balls, earning him the Player of the Match award in Nepal’s nine-wicket victory over the USA at the TU International Cricket Ground. The moment was made even more special as Bhurtel received the award from Andrew Flintoff, one of England’s most iconic all-rounders.
Flintoff, who played 76 Tests and 141 ODIs for England, was present at the Nepal vs USA match, which is part of the ICC CWC League-2 cycle (2024-27). He was seen in the VIP box alongside Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel and Cricket Association of Nepal’s Secretary Paras Khadka. After the match, Flintoff engaged in a brief conversation with the Nepali team, recalling how England narrowly beat Nepal at the 2026 T20 World Cup in Mumbai.
Flintoff’s visit to TU Ground has sparked excitement in Nepali cricket. His arrival follows reports that England plans to include a friendly series in Nepal during their 2027-2031 Future Tours Programme (FTP), offering a glimpse of a potential future collaboration between the two nations.
A Major Win for the Rhinos
Nepal’s victory over the USA is a significant boost for the Rhinos as they aim to secure as many wins as possible in their remaining League-2 fixtures. Currently placed seventh among eight teams, Nepal is determined to finish in the top four by the end of the cycle.
The performance of Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh at the top of the order has given the team added confidence. Bhurtel’s first match against the US at TU Ground proved to be a memorable one, as he scored his career-best ODI score and became only the third Nepali batter after Rohit Kumar Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee to achieve two ODI centuries.
A Return to Normalcy at TU Ground
TU Ground, which recently underwent upgrades with concrete grandstands and floodlights, saw large crowds during the second season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) in 2025. However, international matches had struggled to attract fans, with empty seats dominating the stands.
Saturday’s match marked a return to normalcy, with thousands of fans turning out for the League-2 fixture. Bhurtel expressed his delight at the crowd turnout, noting that it could be due to the day being a Saturday. He also believed that the match would encourage more fans to attend future games.
A Comeback and a Career-Best Performance
Bhurtel made a triumphant return to the playing squad after missing three matches. His last appearance was against Oman in the League-2 fixture on April 29, where he was dismissed for a single run. Despite this setback, he remained confident in his ability to make a comeback.
“I continued working on my game in the nets and through personal training,” Bhurtel said. “I discussed with Aasif that whenever we returned, the top order needed to give Nepal a solid start.”
Aasif Sheikh departed at 58 off 72 in 26.3 overs, while Ishan Pandey, making his debut for Nepal, joined Bhurtel to complete the chase with 80 balls to spare. Pandey scored the winning boundary in 36.4 overs.
A New Chapter for Nepali Cricket
Bhurtel’s century was not just a personal milestone but also a symbol of hope for Nepali cricket. His previous century in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier against Zimbabwe in 2023 led to Nepal winning 11 of their remaining 12 matches in the League-2 cycle. Fans are now hoping for a similar turnaround this season.
Nepal’s win over the USA, who are currently second in the table, is another encouraging sign for the Rhinos as they aim to write another story in Associate cricket. It was also Nepal’s first win over the USA in the ongoing League-2 cycle, ending a four-match losing streak against them.
A Strong Performance from the Bowling Attack
Nepal’s bowling attack delivered a stellar performance, with Dipendra Singh Airee taking four wickets in 7.3 overs. Sompal Kami took two, while Sandeep Lamichhane and Gulshan Kumar Jha claimed one each. The USA, despite posting 195, struggled to maintain consistency, with wickets falling frequently.
Smit Patel, who top-scored for the USA with 83 off 89, praised the conditions at TU Ground. “It was a good wicket to bat on,” he said. “We should have scored up to 300, but we failed as wickets kept falling down.”
USA head coach Pubudu Dassanayake acknowledged the challenges posed by the conditions, stating that the wickets changed throughout the day. “Nepal did well because they are used to these conditions,” he said.
Dassanayake, who previously coached Nepal, also praised Bhurtel’s batting, calling him one of the best talents in Nepali cricket. “When he gets going, he gives a match-winning performance,” he said.
Nepal will face Scotland, the top team in the League-2 points table, on Monday. The match promises to be another exciting chapter in the journey of the Rhinos.
