A complete team effort saw Nepal outplay the two-time world champions in every facet of the game.
Rohit Paudel`s Nepal beat Akeal Hosein`s West Indies in Sharjah.
In a historic triumph, Nepal secured their inaugural victory against a full ICC Member nation, defeating West Indies by 19 runs in Sharjah. This monumental win marks a significant milestone for Nepal, whose previous T20I victory against Afghanistan in 2014 occurred when Afghanistan held Associate status.
Beyond the sheer win, this match was a landmark occasion as Nepal embarked on their first T20I and first-ever bilateral series against a Full Member. They celebrated this debut by comprehensively outplaying the two-time world champions across all aspects of the game. It was a remarkable collective effort, highlighted by six Nepalese batters hitting at least one six, six bowlers claiming a minimum of one wicket, and outstanding fielding throughout the match.
Leading a West Indies side depleted by absences and featuring four debutants, captain Akeal Hosein chose to field after winning the toss. Nepal`s innings began shakily, with both openers back in the pavilion within 3.1 overs. Kushal Bhurtel was stumped by Hosein`s arm ball, while Aasif Sheikh miscued a lofted shot off Jason Holder, caught at mid-on.
Nepal struggled for boundaries early on, managing only two until the final over of the powerplay. Captain Rohit Paudel then doubled that count with back-to-back fours off debutant Ramon Simmonds. However, it was Kushal Malla who truly accelerated the scoring, smashing Fabian Allen for a boundary and then dispatching the spinner for the innings` first six in his next over. Malla continued his aggressive play, hitting another six off Obed McCoy, propelling Nepal to 68 for 2 at the ten-over mark. Paudel, who top-scored with 38 runs, and Malla built a crucial 58-run partnership off 45 balls before both batsmen fell to debutant leg-spinner Navin Bidaisee.
Gulsan Jha and Dipendra Singh Airee attempted to maintain the momentum, but Bidaisee struck again, dismissing Jha to finish with an impressive 3 for 29 from his four overs. In the 19th over, Jason Holder claimed three wickets, but despite some inconsistent West Indian catching, Nepal posted a competitive total of 148 for 8.
West Indies` chase began promisingly with Kyle Mayers hitting a first-ball four, but a dramatic collapse soon followed. Bhurtel`s direct hit swiftly ran out Mayers in the second over. Ackeem Auguste, another debutant, briefly entertained with two delightful sixes before also departing within the powerplay.
Despite these setbacks, West Indies were reasonably placed at 40 for 2 after six overs. However, Nepal`s spinners, led by Paudel and Lalit Rajbanshi, then tightened their grip, weaving a web from which the West Indian batters found no escape. They conceded only 16 runs in the next four overs, each spinner claiming a crucial wicket.
With West Indies requiring 93 from the final ten overs on a challenging pitch for shot-making, Nepal emerged as clear favorites. Three overs later, Dipendra Singh Airee`s brilliant fielding secured another crucial run-out, sending Keacy Carty back to the pavilion after he attempted a non-existent single. West Indies` hopes then largely rested on Jason Holder, but he could only manage 5 runs before holing out to deep midwicket off Bhurtel`s bowling.
Bidaisee, Allen, and Hosein valiantly attempted to keep the fight alive with some big hits, but the escalating asking rate proved insurmountable. West Indies found themselves needing 70 from the last five overs, and 49 from the final three. Despite a momentary lapse in the 18th over where Nepal`s otherwise flawless fielders dropped Hosein twice (one resulting in a four, the other a six), Karan KC decisively removed the West Indies captain in the subsequent over. This left Fabian Allen with the impossible task of scoring 28 from the last over, a challenge he ultimately could not overcome, sealing Nepal`s historic triumph.
