Nepal Stuns West Indies, Registers Historic First T20I Win Against Full-Member Nation

Sharjah, Sept 2025 : Nepal created history on Saturday by defeating the West Indies by 19 runs in the opening match of the three-match T20I series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The victory marked Nepal’s first-ever triumph against a full-member side of the International Cricket Council (ICC), a watershed moment for the Himalayan nation’s cricket journey.

Opting to field first after winning the toss, West Indies bowlers struck early, reducing Nepal to 12/2 within four overs. Akeal Hosein dismissed opener Kushal Bhurtel (5), while Jason Holder sent back Aasif Sheikh (3). However, Nepal’s middle order showed resilience. Captain Rohit Paudel anchored the innings with 38 off 35 balls, while Kusal Malla (30 off 21) and Gulsan Jha (22 off 16) provided vital momentum. Despite a mini-collapse engineered by leg-spinner Navin Bidaisee, who removed Paudel and Malla in quick succession, Nepal managed to post 148/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Holder starred with the ball for West Indies, claiming 4-20, while Bidaisee supported with 3-29.

In reply, the West Indies chase faltered from the start. Opener Kyle Mayers was run out cheaply for 5 by Bhurtel, and from there the innings never found stability. Regular wickets hampered their progress, with Amir Jangoo (19), Ackeem Auguste (15), Keacy Carty (16), and Bidaisee (22) all failing to convert starts into match-winning contributions.

The lower order tried to revive the chase, with Fabian Allen (19 off 14) and captain Hosein (18 off 9) striking a few boundaries, but Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack ensured they remained in control. Bhurtel was outstanding with the ball as well, returning figures of 2-17, while others chipped in to stifle the scoring. West Indies eventually finished on 129/9, falling 19 runs short of the target.

The win sent Nepalese fans into raptures and marked a historic achievement for a side still considered an Associate Member of the ICC. With this result, Nepal leads the three-match series 1-0, with the second T20I scheduled for September 29.

The match not only underlined Nepal’s growing potential on the international stage but also exposed vulnerabilities in a West Indies side missing several of its established stars. For Nepal, it was more than just a win — it was a statement that they are ready to challenge cricket’s traditional heavyweights.

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)
West Indies 129/9 in 20 overs (Navin Bidaisee 22, Amir Jangoo 19; Kushal Bhurtel 2-17)
Result: Nepal won by 19 runs.

Team Maverick