Nepal stunned West Indies by 90 runs in the second T20I of the three-match series at Sharjah. With blazing half-centuries from Aasif Sheikh (68*) and Sundeep Jora (63), Nepal posted 173/6 in 20 overs. While chasing, West Indies lost early wickets. After four overs, they were 6/2, marking the worst start for any team in T20I history.

A dangerous spell from Dipendra Singh Airee (4/1 in 3 overs) and Karan KC (3/1 in 2 overs) contributed to West Indies’ poor start. The innings ended at just 83 runs, with Zishan Morata caught in the deep by Karan KC to finish the innings.

Aadil Alam (4/24 in 4 overs) and Kushal Bhurtel (16/3 in 2.1 overs) were the leading wicket-takers for Nepal. Their performance sealed a 90-run victory and gave Nepal an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Just three days earlier, Nepal had never faced a Full Member team in a T20I series. Now, they had recorded one of the most memorable achievements in their cricket history.

Nepal’s innings builds steadily before late charge

Nepal’s batting innings had two very different phases. In the first ten overs, they focused on building a steady platform and did not hit a single six. Opener Aasif Sheikh formed a solid partnership with Sundeep Jora, guiding Nepal to 74 for 3 at the halfway stage.

In the final ten overs, the pair shifted gears dramatically. Jora was the aggressor, scoring a brilliant 63 off 39 balls, including five sixes. His innings ended in the 18th over, but by then Nepal were well in control. Sheikh anchored the innings, remaining unbeaten on 68 off 47 balls. Alam added a quick 11 from just five deliveries at the end, taking Nepal’s total to 173.

For Alam, this match was extra special as it marked his return to the team after more than three years, having last played in August 2022. While his late cameo with the bat was useful, his impact with the ball turned the game decisively in Nepal’s favor.

West Indies collapse from the start

West Indies endured a disastrous start. They failed to reach double digits in the powerplay until the final ball of the sixth over, when a boundary finally took them to 16 for 2. Dipendra Singh Airee struck first by bowling Jewel Andrew for only 2 runs. Soon after, Kushal Bhurtel produced a stunning catch at cover to dismiss Keacy Carty for 1.

Nepal’s bowlers kept control by cleverly mixing slower deliveries with accurate yorkers. The West Indies batters struggled to adapt, repeatedly mistiming their shots. Only Jason Holder managed to show some resistance, scoring 21 off 15 balls, while the rest failed to get going. The total of 83 all out was West Indies’ sixth-lowest in T20 internationals and marked their joint fourth-biggest defeat by runs.

Alam and Jha shine with ball and fielding brilliance

Medium-pacer Mohammad Aadil Alam was the standout performer with the ball, taking four wickets for 24 runs. His success was backed by Nepal’s exceptional fielding, which made a huge difference between the two teams. Nineteen-year-old Gulsan Jha provided the highlight moment of the match with a breathtaking diving catch at sweeper cover in the eighth over to dismiss Kyle Mayers for a slow 6 off 16 balls.

The West Indies innings never recovered from that point. Their batters kept losing wickets in the middle overs as Nepal’s fielders covered every gap and attacked every ball.

Middle-order collapse seals West Indies’ fate

Alam continued his fine spell by removing Ackeem Auguste for 17 and Amir Jangoo for 16 in consecutive overs. By then, West Indies were struggling at 63 for 5, with the required run rate soaring above 13. Bhurtel then returned to clean up the lower order. Jason Holder, the last real hope for West Indies, fell to Lalit Rajbanshi in the 17th over, with Jha pulling off another stunning catch. Bhurtel ended the innings soon after when another batter was caught on the boundary.

This was a day when West Indies repeatedly found fielders at the rope rather than clearing them, a testament to Nepal’s discipline and sharp fielding.

Hosein fights alone for West Indies

West Indies captain Akeal Hosein was the only bowler to make a real impact. He bowled a tight spell of 2 for 21 and reduced Nepal to 14 for 2 by the fourth over. However, after his early breakthroughs, the rest of the bowling attack failed to maintain pressure. Nepal’s middle order took full advantage, lifting the total beyond West Indies’ reach.

Any hopes of a comeback after their loss in the first match quickly faded as West Indies collapsed to 83 all out, the lowest total by a Full Member team against an Associate side. The 90-run defeat was also the largest margin by which an Associate nation has ever beaten a Full Member team in T20Is.