Sharjah: Nepal achieved a historic milestone by securing their first bilateral series victory over a full-member nation, convincingly defeating the West Indies in two consecutive matches held in Sharjah. The West Indies, resting many first-choice players, appeared to underestimate the Nepali team and faced significant consequences as a result.
In the opening match, Nepal’s bowlers excelled, while the second match showcased a balanced performance with strong contributions from both batters and bowlers. Aasif Sheikh and Sundeep Jora formed a crucial century partnership for the fourth wicket, leading the way for Nepal. Mohammad Aadil Alam also excelled with the ball, taking four wickets to initiate a dramatic collapse for the West Indies, ultimately securing the win for Nepal.
The performance highlighted not only the deficiencies within the West Indies team, which, despite the absence of key players, struggled to find depth among their available players, but also the growth of Nepal’s cricket over the past few years. A solid core led by Rohit Paudel, along with players such as Kushal Malla, Aasif Sheikh, Bhurtel, and Lait Rajbanshi, proved their capabilities.
After an early setback at 43/3 in the seventh over, hopes for the West Indies seemed to diminish. However, Sheikh and Jora delivered impressive performances on a challenging Sharjah pitch, establishing a strong foundation for Nepal’s total. With 174 runs to chase, the West Indies faltered early, losing two crucial wickets without scoring significant runs. Jason Holder, the team’s experienced player, put in a valiant effort, but ultimately, the West Indies could only manage a mere 83 runs, handing Nepal a substantial victory by 90 runs.
The West Indies will need to regroup quickly to avoid a series sweep, as Nepal looks to carry forward their momentum into the next match on Tuesday.
