Nepal has achieved a historic milestone in cricket, securing their first-ever series win against a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the West Indies. This victory was highlighted by a record-breaking 90-run win in the second T20I match, giving Nepal an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The match also saw the West Indies registering their lowest-ever T20I score against an associate nation.
The second T20I witnessed Nepal's dominant performance, with the West Indies being bowled out for a mere 83 runs in 17.1 overs while chasing a target of 174. This score is the lowest ever recorded by a full member nation against an associate team in men's T20Is, surpassing England's previous low of 88 against the Netherlands in the 2014 T20 World Cup. Nepal's victory by 90 runs is also the largest ever recorded by an associate team against a full member in T20Is, exceeding Afghanistan's 81-run win over Zimbabwe in 2016.
Nepal's innings was built around a strong batting performance, with Aasif Sheikh scoring an unbeaten 68 off 47 balls and Sundeep Jora contributing a rollicking 63 off 39 deliveries. Their partnership of 100 runs for the fourth wicket helped Nepal recover from a shaky start and post a competitive total of 173/6. In contrast, the West Indies batting lineup struggled, with only three batsmen reaching double figures, Jason Holder top-scoring with 21. Mohammad Aadil Alam was the pick of the Nepalese bowlers, taking 4 wickets for 24 runs, while Kushal Bhurtel claimed 3 wickets.
The historic win has been celebrated across Nepal, with fans expressing their joy and pride in the team's achievement. Chatur Bahadur Chand, President of the Cricket Association of Nepal, stated that the win would improve the players' standing in the cricketing world. Nepal captain Rohit Paudel dedicated the win to the "martyrs" of recent protests in the country, hoping to bring "a little bit of happiness" to the people.
This series win is a significant milestone for Nepal, who have been growing in stature in international cricket. Nepal secured their first-ever win against the two-time world champion West Indies on Saturday, winning by 19 runs. The team's recent success will provide them with confidence ahead of the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia-Pacific Regional Final, where they will compete for a spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
For the West Indies, this defeat adds to a series of setbacks. Their Test team was previously bowled out for just 27 against Australia in July, the second-lowest score in Test history. Additionally, they failed to qualify for the 50-over World Cup in 2023 and are currently outside the qualifying places for the 2027 edition. Akeal Hosein, the West Indies captain, acknowledged the team's poor performance and urged his players to assess their suitability for international cricket.
