Nepal Creates History in 1st T20I Against West Indies

Nepal has created cricket history. They defeated West Indies by 19 runs in Sharjah in the first T20I of their bilateral series. This was their first-ever win against a Full Member across formats. It was a proud moment for Nepal cricket fans and a new chapter in their journey. The match had everything. Runs, wickets, brilliant fielding, pressure moments, and a team performance that showed confidence. Nepal outplayed the two-time T20 World Cup winners in every department.

A Historic Day for Nepal Cricket

Nepal had waited long for this. They had beaten Afghanistan back in 2014 in a T20I but Afghanistan were still an Associate team at that time. This was different. This was against the West Indies, a team with two T20 World Cup trophies. The importance of the win cannot be ignored even  if it was the West Indies B team.

For Nepal this was also the start of their first bilateral T20I series against a Full Member nation. The result made it even more memorable. Every player contributed in some way. Six batters hit at least one six. Six bowlers picked at least one wicket. The fielding was sharp with direct hits and great catches.

Match Overview

Nepal Innings

Nepal batted first after West Indies captain Akeal Hosein won the toss and decided to field. The start was poor. Both openers were dismissed inside the first four overs. But captain Rohit Paudel and young left-hander Kushal Malla built a partnership. Malla provided momentum with two sixes and some quick runs. Paudel played a captain’s knock with a calm 38.

Even though wickets fell in the final overs, Nepal reached 148 for 8 in 20 overs. It was a fighting total on a slow pitch in Sharjah. Jason Holder bowled brilliantly and took 4 wickets for 20 runs. Debutant Navin Bidaisee impressed with 3 wickets. But West Indies missed chances in the field. Some catches were dropped and that cost them extra runs.

Nepal Batting Scorecard

Batter	R	B	4s	6s	SR
Rohit Paudel (c)	38	35	3	1	108.57
Kushal Malla	30	21	2	2	142.85
Gulsan Jha	22	16	0	2	137.50
Dipendra Singh Airee	17	19	0	1	89.47

West Indies Innings

The chase began with a boundary from Kyle Mayers. But Nepal struck back immediately. A direct hit from Kushal Bhurtel ran Mayers out. Debutant Ackeem Auguste looked good with two big sixes but he too fell inside the powerplay.

After six overs West Indies were 40 for 2. That was still a good platform but Nepal’s spinners controlled the middle overs. Lalit Rajbanshi, Rohit Paudel, and Dipendra Airee gave away very few runs. The required rate kept going up.

Holder was dismissed cheaply and West Indies were left struggling. Fabian Allen and captain Akeal Hosein tried to fight back with some sixes. But Karan KC and Bhurtel bowled well at the death. West Indies finished on 129 for 9 in 20 overs.

West Indies Batting Scorecard

Batter	R	B	4s	6s	SR
Navin Bidaisee	22	25	1	1	88.00
Fabian Allen	19	14	3	0	135.71
Akeal Hosein (c)	18	9	1	2	200.00
Amir Jangoo	19	22	2	0	86.36

Key Performances

Rohit Paudel: Captain Leading from the Front

Rohit Paudel was named Player of the Match. He scored 38 runs from 35 balls and later picked a wicket with the ball. His leadership was calm and smart. He rotated the bowlers well and used his spinners at the right time.

Kushal Malla: Aggression at the Right Time

Malla changed the momentum with his quickfire 30. His two sixes lifted Nepal after a slow start. Without his innings Nepal could have struggled to cross 130.

Jason Holder: Lone Warrior for West Indies

Holder was the best bowler in the match. He took 4 wickets for just 20 runs. In the 19th over he picked up 3 wickets. Sadly for West Indies his batting could not make an impact this time.

Nepal Fielding

The match also highlighted the difference in fielding. Nepal saved runs and executed two run-outs. West Indies dropped easy catches and missed run-out chances. In T20 cricket small moments decide matches and Nepal did better in that area.

Bowling Analysis

Team	Best Bowler	Figures	Economy
Nepal	Kushal Bhurtel	2/17 (4 ov)	4.25
Nepal	Karan KC	1/17 (3 ov)	5.66
Nepal	Lalit Rajbanshi	1/6 (2 ov)	3.00
West Indies	Jason Holder	4/20 (4 ov)	5.00
West Indies	Navin Bidaisee	3/29 (4 ov)	7.25

Turning Points of the Match

1. Bhurtel’s direct hit to dismiss Kyle Mayers in the second over.
    
2. Partnership of 58 runs between Paudel and Malla that rebuilt Nepal innings.
    
3. Tight middle overs from Nepal spinners where West Indies scored just 16 runs in 4 overs.
    
4. Run out of Keacy Carty by Airee which broke West Indies’ chase rhythm.
    
5. Holder’s wicket for 5 runs which ended any hope of a comeback.

What This Win Means for Nepal

This victory shows that Nepal can compete with bigger teams. Their cricket has grown in the last decade. With players like Paudel, Malla, Airee, and Bhurtel, Nepal are building a strong T20 side.

For fans this was emotional. Watching their team beat a former world champion is something special. It also boosts confidence for the rest of the series.

Get Latest Cricket Updates on tapmad

Fans watch live cricket streaming on tapmad in clear HD. The platform shows major cricket series and world tournaments. It gives real-time updates and live scores. You can stream matches with smooth quality and no breaks. tapmad also shares expert analysis and match highlights. Cricket fans follow every ball and every run in one place. The service brings nonstop action from around the world. Stay connected with tapmad for reliable coverage. Watch live cricket and enjoy sports updates anytime, anywhere.

Conclusion

Nepal’s 19-run win over the West Indies will be remembered for years. It was their first-ever victory against a Full Member nation. The performance was built on teamwork. Batters chipped in with useful runs. Bowlers kept their nerves under pressure. Fielders created crucial breakthroughs.

 

For the West Indies this was a wake-up call. They cannot take Associate nations lightly anymore. Nepal showed that passion and discipline can overcome big names. As the series continues, fans can expect more excitement.

Nepal cricket has made a statement. The journey has just begun but the message is clear. They belong at the big stage.