Nepal stun West Indies to claim historic first win over a Full Member team

Nepal stun West Indies to claim historic first win over a Full Member team

West Indies vs Nepal: Nepal achieved a historic milestone in international T20I cricket by defeating the West Indies by 19 runs in the first match of their three-match T20I series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Nepal pulled off a landmark victory in Sharjah, defeating the West Indies by 19 runs to register their first-ever win against a Full Member nation across formats. While they had beaten Afghanistan in a T20I back in 2014, Afghanistan were still an Associate team at the time. This win, against two-time world champions West Indies, marks a new chapter in Nepal’s cricket journey.

Even beyond the result, the occasion was historic. It was Nepal’s first T20I against the West Indies and the beginning of their first bilateral series against a Full Member. They made it count by dominating the game in all departments. Six Nepal batters hit at least one six, six bowlers took a wicket each, and their fielding was sharp and energetic throughout.

West Indies, fielding a second-string side with four debutants, chose to bowl first after captain Akeal Hosein won the toss. Nepal had a shaky start, losing both openers within the first 3.1 overs. Kushal Bhurtel was stumped off Hosein, and Aasif Sheikh was caught trying to go big against Jason Holder.

Runs were hard to come by early on, with just two boundaries in the first five overs. Captain Rohit Paudel gave the innings a lift with back-to-back fours off debutant Ramon Simmonds, but it was Kushal Malla who truly shifted gears. He struck Fabian Allen for a four and followed it up with a six in the next over, then added another six off Obed McCoy to push Nepal to 68 for 2 at the halfway mark.

Paudel and Malla added 58 runs off 45 balls before both fell to debutant legspinner Navin Bidaisee, who ended with impressive figures of 3 for 29. Gulsan Jha and Dipendra Singh Airee tried to keep the momentum going, but Holder’s triple strike in the 19th over slowed things down. Despite some brilliant catches and some dropped chances from West Indies, Nepal posted a competitive 148 for 8.

West Indies began their chase with a boundary off the first ball, but things quickly unraveled. Bhurtel’s direct hit ran out Kyle Mayers in the second over, and debutant Ackeem Auguste, despite hitting two sixes, was dismissed inside the powerplay. At 40 for 2 after six overs, West Indies were still in the game, but Nepal’s spinners tightened the screws.

Paudel and Lalit Rajbanshi bowled tight spells, giving away just 16 runs in the next four overs and picking up a wicket each. With 93 needed from the final ten overs on a slow pitch, West Indies were under pressure. Airee’s sharp fielding sent back Keacy Carty, who was run out attempting a risky single.

Holder was the West Indies’ last hope, but he managed only 5 runs before falling to Bhurtel. Bidaisee, Allen, and Hosein tried to fight back with big hits, but the required run rate kept climbing. West Indies needed 70 from the last five overs and 49 from the final three.

In the 18th over, Nepal’s fielders dropped Hosein twice in two balls—one went for four, the other for six. But Karan KC dismissed the West Indies captain in the next over, leaving Allen with too much to do. Needing 28 off the final over, Allen couldn’t pull off the miracle.

Nepal’s win wasn’t just about the scorecard—it was about belief, teamwork, and a moment that will be remembered for years. From a shaky start to a commanding finish, they showed they belong on the big stage.