Nepalese batsman Kushal Bhurtel continued his extraordinary form in the Asian Games men’s cricket qualifiers, equaling a rare world record with consecutive T20I centuries just days after hitting six sixes in a single over.The explosive opener produced another impressive innings on Thursday as Nepal thrashed Malaysia by 167 runs to strengthen their fight for a place in the tournament final.After Malaysia elected to field first, Bhurtel and wicketkeeper-batsman Aasif Sheikh launched a fierce assault at the top of the order. The pair added 134 runs for the opening wicket and ran into three figures before completing the seventh over. Nepal’s scoring pace hardly slowed down thereafter, with the team reaching a staggering 230 for 2 at the end of the 16th over.Aasif provided the first fireworks, smashing 68 off just 24 deliveries before Virandeep Singh finally ended his innings. However, soon the spotlight fell solely on Bhurtel.The left-hander raced to his half-century in just 25 balls and needed just another 19 deliveries to convert it to a hundred. He finally returned after a sensational knock of 126 off 54 balls, studded with 14 boundaries and eight sixes.Powered by Bhurtel’s brilliance, Nepal amassed 275 runs before completing a dominant victory. Malaysia never threatened the target and were bowled out for just 108.The century had additional significance for Bhurtel. Having reached a hundred against China in Nepal’s first group match, he became the 10th men’s cricketer in T20I history to register centuries in successive innings.The achievement places him alongside an exclusive group that includes players such as Rilee Rossouw, Sanju Samson, tilak varma and Phil Salt.Bhurtel’s remarkable run began in the first match of the tournament 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 next over and bowled all six deliveries for six, with most of the shots flying straight over the bowler’s head.Despite the tough defeat, Malaysia had already secured qualification for the 2026 Asian Games after defeating China earlier in the competition. They will now face Group B winner Hong Kong in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Nepal will take on Oman as they continue their quest for gold.For now, however, the tournament belongs to Bhurtel. In the space of four days, he smashed six sixes in an over, scored consecutive T20I centuries and etched his name in the record books with one of the most explosive batting displays seen in associate cricket.
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