UAE
Nepal Seal Historic T20 Series Win Over West Indies. Nepal scripted history by clinching their first-ever bilateral series win against a Test-playing nation after thrashing the West Indies by 90 runs in the second T20I at Sharjah. With this emphatic victory, Nepal took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Batting first, Nepal posted a competitive 173 for six in 20 overs, powered by half-centuries from Aasif Sheikh (68 not out) and Sundeep Jora (63 off 39 balls, including five sixes). The duo shared a match-winning 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket that set the tone for Nepal’s innings.
In reply, the West Indies batting collapsed under relentless pressure. They were bowled out for just 83 runs in 17.1 overs, marking their lowest total against an associate nation. Nepal’s bowlers were outstanding—Mohammad Aadil Alam (4-24) ripped through the middle order, while Kushal Bhurtel (3-16) dismantled the tail with his leg spin.
This was also the biggest margin of victory by an associate member over a full member in T20I cricket, further underlining Nepal’s rapid rise on the international stage.
Reactions from Both Camps
“We are very happy. It took a lot to win against a Test-playing country,” said Nepal captain Rohit Paudel. “After two days, winning a bilateral series feels really great. The way we’ve been playing in the last two or three years, lots of eyes are on us. We want to continue this way and play more against Test-playing nations.”
On the other side, West Indies captain Akeal Hosein admitted the defeat was a wake-up call: “For us, it’s just about understanding really fast that this is international cricket. If you can’t benchmark yourself here, then you need to ask yourself if you’re really international material.”
West Indies in Crisis
The loss adds to a string of disappointing performances for the two-time T20 World Cup champions. Just two months ago, they were bowled out for 27 by Australia in a Test—the second-lowest score in Test history. They also failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup and currently sit outside the qualification spots for the 2027 edition.
