The Sharjah Cricket Stadium witnessed a historic moment as Nepal defeated the West Indies by 19 runs in a thrilling T20I match. This victory marks Nepal’s first-ever win against a Full Member nation, a remarkable achievement that signifies the team’s growth in the cricketing world. The win is even more significant, considering that their previous victory was against Afghanistan when they were still an Associate nation. This game also marked the commencement of Nepal’s first bilateral series against a Full Member team. Nepal, after being put to bat, saw Kushal Malla score a counterattacking 37 and captain Rohit Paudel contribute a steady 35. Debutant Navin Bidaisee made a strong impression for the West Indies with 3 for 29, and Jason Holder’s late strikes in the 19th over created tension. Nepal, however, managed to score 148 for 8, partly due to the Windies’ fielding lapses. Chasing the target, the West Indies lost momentum, and a direct hit by Bhurtel sent Kyle Mayers back early. The Nepal spinners, Paudel, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Dipendra Singh Airee, successfully curbed the scoring, while Nepal’s fielding was notably sharp, highlighted by Airee’s run-out. Despite late contributions from Fabian Allen and Akeal Hosein, Nepal remained composed. Karan KC’s dismissal of the West Indies’ skipper in the penultimate over ensured the historic victory. This win isn’t just a victory; it’s a statement that a new era has begun for Nepal cricket, and the cricketing world is taking note.
