The Nepal National Cricket Team burnt Sharjah with a historic night that his fans would remember for years. Taking the West Indies for the first time in a T20I, and in its first bilateral series against a full member nation, Nepal surprised the two -time world champion to script history.
With its exciting 19 -run win over the West Indies, Nepal registered its first win against a full member in the forms. West Indies stand-in captain Akil Hosin won the toss and opted for bowling first, and Nepal made a poor start at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Nepal scored 19 runs in West Indies for the first time in T20I
Both openers, Kushal Bhurtel and Asif Sheikh, returned to the pavilion within the first 3.1 overs. Hosin’s arm ball was stumped to Bhurtel after wrong for just 6 runs off 11 balls, while Sheikh hit a shot from Jason Holder and was caught in mid-on for 2 runs.
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By the end of the power play, Nepal managed only two boundaries, and it seemed that they were moving towards a minor clan. And that was when Captain Rohit Pudel (35 balls 38 runs) and hard-touching Kushal Malla (30 off 21 balls) changed the entire course of the innings.
Paudel cracked two crisp fours from the debut pacer Ramon Simmonds, while Malla brought the crowd alive with a border against Fabian Ellen and then a six six in the next over of the spinner. Malla launched Obed McCoy another one and six bandh to push Nepal for 2 for 2 for 2.
Rohit Paudel -Kushal Malla Stand Rescuce Nepal
Rohit and Kushal’s 58-ri partnership stabilized Nepal, before the two sets fought twice in quick succession to remove the batsmen. However, Gulson Jha (22) and Deepender Singh Eri (17) kept the scoreboard, but the wickets fell.
Bidisi ended with impressive figures of 3/29, while Jason Holder also took three wickets as Nepal fought his way for a competitive 148/8. Chasing 149, the West Indies hit the first ball with Kyle Mayors on the first ball for four. But Bhurtel’s Lightning-Fast Direct scored the mayors out for only five runs in the second over, causing initial problems for the Caribbean side.
Later, Debute Ekcim Augustay retaliated with two cracking sixs, but was also dismissed for just 15 runs off 7 balls during the powerplay. At 40/2 after six overs, the West Indies still looked under control, but Nepal’s spinners turned the tables into style.
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Karan Casey finished the late charge of Akil Hosin
Rohit Paudel and Lalit Rajbanshi bowled tight lines, scored only 16 runs in the next four overs, while taking one wicket. The pressure on the West Indies team began to increase on a slow Sharjah pitch from the last ten overs.
Later, Bidasi, Fabian Alan, and Akil Hosin tried to revive the chase with some big hits, but rapidly climbed the asking rate. In the last five overs, with the need of 70 and the final three to 49 was needed, this task became almost impossible.
A couple of catch dropped in the 18th over gave Hosin a lifeline, adding a four and one six, but Karan Casey dismissed her in the next over to close the door on any return.
Eventually, Nepal wrapped the game in style as the West Indies could manage 129/9 in 20 overs, with Bhurtel took two scales in the first T20I match on Saturday.
