KATHMANDU, Sept 30: Nepal carved its name into cricket history with a stunning triumph in T20I cricket, clinching its first-ever series victory against a Test-playing nation. With one match still to be played in the three-game series, Nepal outclassed the mighty West Indies with a commanding 90-run win at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE on Monday.
Chasing a target of 174, the West Indies batting order collapsed under relentless pressure, bundled out for just 83 in 17.1 overs. Eight of their batters failed to reach double figures, with Jason Holder’s 21 runs being the highest contribution.
Nepal’s bowlers struck early and often. Dipendra Singh Airee lit up the attack, dismissing Jawel Andrew for 2 in his second over. Soon after, Karan KC removed Keacy Carty for 1, brilliantly caught by Kushal Bhurtel. From there, wickets fell in clusters—3rd, 4th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th (two wickets), 16th, 17th, and 18th overs—leaving the Caribbean side in tatters.
Nepal completes historic clean-sweep; wins T20I series after OD...
Aadil Alam was the star with the ball, producing a fiery spell of four wickets for just 24 runs. Kushal Bhurtel chipped in with three wickets, while Airee, Karan KC, and Lalit Rajbanshi grabbed one apiece to complete the demolition.
Earlier, Nepal’s batting had set the stage for glory. Winning the toss and opting to bat, Nepal posted 173 for 6, powered by a dazzling 100-run stand between Asif Sheikh and Sundeep Jora after an early wobble at 43 for 3. Jora blazed 63 runs off 39 balls with five sixes and three fours before departing, while Asif anchored the innings with a classy unbeaten 68 off 47 balls, striking two sixes and eight fours. Their partnership also set a new national record for Nepal’s highest fourth-wicket stand in T20Is, surpassing the previous best of 99.
Cameos from Gulshan Jha (6) and Aadil Alam—who struck 11 off 5 on his comeback after suspension—added to the total. The top order, however, struggled, with opener Kushal Bhurtel (2), skipper Rohit Paudel (3), and Kushal Malla (7) falling cheaply.
For the West Indies, Akeal Hosein and Kyle Mayers shared two wickets each, while Jediah Blades picked up one. Kushal Malla was run out.
With this emphatic win, Nepal sealed the series against the former T20 world champions, and all eyes now turn to the third and final match on Tuesday.
