{
  "id": 9764534,
  "title": "Lalit Rajbanshi, Kushal Bhurtel set up Nepal’s opening win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/lalit-rajbanshi-kushal-bhurtel-set-up-nepals-opening-win-9764534",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-25T10:27:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/lalit-rajbanshi-kushal-bhurtel-set-up-nepals-opening-win/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the opening match of the Asian Games cricket tournament in Nishin, Nepal claimed their first victory over Afghanistan. Spinners Kushal Bhurtel and Lalit Rajbanshi were instrumental in securing the win with their combined seven wickets. Afghanistan's batting lineup struggled, falling to 16 for 3 in the fifth over as left-arm spinner Rajbanshi claimed all three wickets in his three overs. Despite Najibullah Zadran and Faisal Ahmadzai scoring 30 each, Afghanistan's total was a modest 102 for 7 in their 20 overs. Nepal chased down the target with five wickets and 16 balls to spare, with Sundeep Jora and Rohit Paudel stabilizing the innings. The final score saw Nepal emerge victorious by five wickets.",
  "summary": "Spinners Kushal Bhurtel and Lalit Rajbanshi shared seven wickets between them to give Nepal a winning start to their cricket campaign in the Asian Games, in Nishin. They restricted Afghanistan to 102 for 7 in 20 overs, after which Nepal chased the target with five wickets and 16 balls to spare. This was Afghanistan’s first […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ESPNcricinfo",
        "title": "Lalit Rajbanshi, Kushal Bhurtel set up Nepal's opening win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/lalit-rajbanshi-kushal-bhurtel-set-up-nepals-opening-win",
        "published": "2026-09-25T08:42:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}