Nepal defeat Canada by 6 wickets in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match in Chennai. Aasif Sheikh stars with a blazing 58 as the Rhinos chase 162 comfortably.
Nepal vs Canada Highlights: Rhinos Register Dominant 6-Wicket Win Before Group Stage
Nepal vs Canada Highlights – Nepal carried strong momentum into the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 group stages after defeating Canada by six wickets in a confident warm-up performance at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
Chasing a competitive 162-run target, the Rhinos made the run chase look easy. A fiery knock from Aasif Sheikh, supported by Sundeep Jora and Gulshan Jha, ensured Nepal crossed the line with two overs to spare.
It was a complete team effort — disciplined bowling first, then fearless batting.
Canada Post 161/6 After Choosing to Bat
After winning the toss, Canada opted to bat first. Their innings started slowly, with Nepal’s bowlers maintaining tight lines and preventing early boundaries.
However, the middle overs saw some recovery.
Key Canada contributions:
- Navneet Dhaliwal – 41
- Shreyas Movva – 38 (late acceleration)*
Canada managed a late surge, scoring 56 runs in the last four overs, which helped them reach 161/6 in 20 overs.
But despite the late push, Nepal’s bowlers kept control when it mattered.
Nepal bowling standouts:
- Sandeep Lamichhane – 2 wickets
- Kushal Bhurtel – 2 wickets
Both bowlers broke partnerships and stopped Canada from posting a bigger total.
Aasif Sheikh’s Explosive Start Crushes Canadian Hopes
Nepal’s chase began aggressively. Right from the first over, the intent was clear — attack.
Aasif Sheikh took charge immediately, smashing boundaries and sixes with ease. He raced to a half-century in just 18 balls, putting Canada under massive pressure.
His knock included:
- 58 runs off 29 balls
- Multiple sixes
- Striking above 180
Interestingly, he was retired out after reaching 58, allowing other batters to get match practice.
Even then, the damage was already done.
Jora and Jha Finish the Job Calmly
After Sheikh’s fireworks, Sundeep Jora (44) kept the scoreboard ticking with smart stroke play.
Later, Gulshan Jha (31)* calmly guided Nepal home.
The chase never looked in danger as Nepal comfortably reached:
Nepal – 162/4 in 18 overs
A smooth, professional finish.
Match Summary – Nepal vs Canada Warm-Up
Canada – 161/6 (20 overs)
Dhaliwal 41, Movva 38*
Lamichhane 2 wickets, Bhurtel 2 wickets
Nepal – 162/4 (18 overs)
Aasif Sheikh 58, Jora 44, Jha 31*
Result:
Nepal won by 6 wickets
What This Win Means for Nepal
Warm-up matches are about rhythm and confidence — and Nepal gained both.
This victory showed:
✅ Strong bowling control
✅ Explosive top order
✅ Calm finishing
✅ Bench strength utilization
Heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 group stage, the Rhinos look sharp and well-prepared.
If their top order continues firing like this, Nepal could surprise bigger teams.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes warm-up games don’t tell much. But this one did.
Nepal didn’t just win — they dominated.
From tight bowling to fearless hitting, the Rhinos delivered a complete performance and sent a strong message before the tournament begins.
Momentum matters in T20 cricket. And right now, it’s firmly with Nepal.
