Heartbreak in Oman: Kuwait’s T20 World Cup Qualification Dream Ends Despite Spirited Fight
-
ICC Mens T20 World Cup Asia-EAP Qualifier
-
KUWAIT vs JAPAN
KUWAIT 177/6 (20)
JAPAN 178/5 (19.3)
Japan Won By 5 Wickets
Kuwait’s hopes of advancing to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 came to a heartbreaking end as Japan chased down a challenging total of 177 with three balls to spare in a thrilling encounter in Muscat. Despite a valiant all-round effort, Kuwait fell just short, marking the end of their qualification campaign in dramatic fashion.
Asked to Bat first, Kuwait got off to a solid start thanks to an aggressive knock from Clinto Anto (34 off 28) and a composed partnership between Meet Bhavsar (29 off 24) and Ali Zaheer (41 off 31). The middle order kept the scoreboard ticking, with Yasin Patel’s fiery 40 off 28 balls giving Kuwait the late surge they needed. Despite losing wickets at crucial intervals, Kuwait’s batting lineup showed intent and composure to post a competitive 177/6 in 20 overs. Declan Suzuki-McComb was the pick of Japan’s bowlers, claiming 3 wickets, while Sabaorish Ravichandran applied pressure with an economical spell.
Defending the total, Kuwait fought tooth and nail. Early breakthroughs gave them a glimmer of hope as Muhammad Aqif and Yasin Patel picked up key wickets. However, Japan’s Esam Rahman played a match-defining innings, smashing 64 off just 39 balls, anchoring the chase with powerful strokes all around the ground. Despite a late surge from the Kuwait bowlers and tight spells from Anudeep Chenthamara and Naveen Rajendran, Japan managed to cross the finish line at 178/5 in 19.3 overs.
While the result didn’t go Kuwait’s way, the team’s fighting spirit, balanced performance, and fearless approach throughout the qualifiers earned admiration. Player of the Match – Esam Rahman – proved to be the difference on the night, but Kuwait can walk away with heads held high, knowing they left everything on the field.
Follow The Times Kuwait on
X, Instagram and Facebook for the latest news updates
