In a stunning upset at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Nepal secured their first-ever victory against a Full Member nation, defeating the West Indies by 19 runs in a T20I match. This historic win marks a significant milestone for Nepalese cricket, surpassing their previous achievement of beating Afghanistan in 2014, as Afghanistan was then an Associate nation. This victory is particularly momentous, symbolizing a major step forward for Nepal in the cricketing world. The match was also the start of their maiden bilateral series against a Full Member nation. Nepal, batting first, faced early setbacks but rallied with a counterattacking 37 from Kushal Malla and a steady 35 by captain Rohit Paudel. Despite a strong performance from debutant Navin Bidaisee, who took 3 wickets for 29 runs, and a late triple strike by Jason Holder that threatened to disrupt their innings, Nepal managed to post a competitive score of 148 for 8, helped by inconsistent catching from the West Indies. In response, the West Indies initially showed promise but lost momentum, with a direct hit from Bhurtel removing Kyle Mayers early on. The Nepalese spinners, Paudel, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Dipendra Singh Airee, successfully restricted the scoring, and the team’s fielding was exceptional, highlighted by Airee’s run-out of Keacy Carty. Despite late efforts from Fabian Allen and Akeal Hosein, Nepal maintained their composure. Karan KC’s dismissal of the West Indies’ skipper in the penultimate over sealed the historic victory. This win is more than just a result; it’s a declaration that a new era has begun for Nepal cricket, and the world is now watching.
