Nepal clinch historic victory over West Indies

By Pramod joshi,Kathmandu, Sept. 29: Nepal recorded a landmark victory on Saturday night, defeating West Indies by 19 runs in the opening match of the Unity Cup T20I series in Sharjah, UAE. Defending a modest total of 148, Nepal secured their first-ever win against an ICC Full Member side, taking a 1–0 lead in the three-match series.

Nepal impressed across all departments—batting, bowling, and fielding. Skipper Rohit Paudel led from the front with a captain’s knock, scoring 38 off 35 balls and taking 1 wicket. He was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.

After the win, Paudel dedicated the trophy to those who lost their lives during the Gen-Z protest in Nepal. “Nepal is going through tough times and slowly returning to normalcy. This historic win will bring some joy to the nation,” he said.

Before this match, Nepal had played 103 T20 Internationals without a win against a Full Member. This 104th fixture finally broke that barrier. Nepal have had limited chances to face Full Members—those recognised in Test, ODI, and T20I formats. This series marks their first bilateral engagement with such a team.

Previously, Nepal had only met Full Members like India, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh in multi-nation tournaments. Their win over Afghanistan in the 2014 T20 World Cup came when Afghanistan were still an Associate Member. Nepal had played eight T20Is against Full Members before this match—two each against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Ireland, and one each against India and South Africa—all ending in defeat. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Nepal came agonisingly close to beating South Africa, falling short by just one run.

Despite losing the toss, Paudel said it worked in their favour, as he had planned to bat first. Recent matches in Sharjah had favoured teams setting a target, and Nepal hoped to follow suit.

Put in to bat, Nepal had a shaky start, losing both openers inside four overs. Kushal Bhurtel (6) and Aasif Sheikh (3) departed early. Paudel and Kushal Malla steadied the innings with a 50-run stand. Paudel struck three fours and a six in his 38-run knock, while Malla added 30 off 21 balls, including two fours and two sixes.

Gulshan Jha (22 off 16) and Dipendra Singh Airee (17 off 19) chipped in with useful cameos. Nepal finished on 148 for 8 in their 20 overs—a below-par score for the venue. Jason Holder bagged 4 wickets, while Navin Bidaisee took 3 for the Windies.

Nepal’s bowlers then rose to the occasion. Paudel credited the team’s belief and disciplined bowling for defending the total. He praised the experienced pace duo of Karan KC and Sompal Kami, along with part-time bowler Kushal Bhurtel. He also thanked Nepali fans for their support and urged them to keep backing the team.

West Indies were under pressure from the start, losing wickets at regular intervals. They were restricted to 129 for 9 in their 20 overs. Navin Bidaisee top-scored with 22, while Amir Jangoo (19), Ackeem Auguste (15), Keacy Carty (16), Fabian Allen (19), and captain Akeal Hosein (18) made brief contributions.

Bhurtel pulled off a brilliant run-out to dismiss Kyle Mayers (5) in the second over. Jason Holder fell cheaply, leaving the Windies struggling at 76 for 6. Allen and Hosein launched a short counterattack, but with 30 needed off the final two overs, Karan KC bowled a tight penultimate over, removing Hosein and conceding just two runs. Airee held his nerve in the final over, giving away only two boundaries and sealing Nepal’s famous 19-run win. 

Bhurtel picked two wickets while Airee, KC, Nandan Yadav, Lalit Rajbanshi and Rohit Paudel had one wicket apiece.