Nepal pulled off a stunning upset in international cricket on Saturday, beating West Indies by 19 runs in the opening T20I of their three-match series. This marks Nepal’s first-ever victory against a full ICC member nation, a huge milestone for the Himalayan team.
The action unfolded at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, where West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl first against the underdog side. Nepal’s batters faced early trouble but fought back to post 148 for 8 in 20 overs. Captain Rohit Paudel led the charge with a steady 38 off 35 balls, while Kusal Malla smashed 30 off 21 and Gulsan Jha added 22 off 16. West Indies pacers struck hard, though—Jason Holder grabbed 4 wickets for just 20 runs, and leggie Navin Bidaisee took 3 for 29.
Chasing 149, West Indies stumbled right away. Opener Kyle Mayers fell for 5, run out by Kushal Bhurtel. The Caribbean side never found their rhythm, losing wickets steadily. Amir Jangoo made 19 off 22, Ackeem Auguste hit 15 off 7, and Keacy Carty scored 16 off 15, but no one could build a big knock. Lower down, Fabian Allen (19 off 14) and skipper Akeal Hosein (18 off 9) tried to rally, but they ended up at 129 for 9.
Nepal’s bowlers sealed the deal, with Bhurtel claiming 2 for 17. This thrilling win gives Nepal a 1-0 lead in the T20I series, and fans can’t wait for the second match on September 29.
Brief scores: Nepal 148/8 in 20 overs (Rohit Paudel 38, Kusal Malla 30, Gulsan Jha 22; Jason Holder 4-20, Navin Bidaisee 3-29) beat West Indies 129/9 in 20 overs (Navin Bidaisee 22, Amir Jangoo 19; Kushal Bhurtel 2-17) by 19 runs.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
