Nepal stunned West Indies in a high-scoring first T20I match played at Kiritpur on 27th April 2024. It was an amazing performance by the Nepal side against a strong West Indies unit.
Nepal captain Rohit Paudel won the toss and decided to field first. Alick Athanaze showed intent in the first over before KS Airee struck getting rid of Johnson Charles without opening his account. Fletcher looked in positive touch before a mix-up led to his run-out leaving West Indies in trouble.
Athanaze and captain Chase maintained the momentum for West Indies scoring 77 for 2 at the end of six overs. Nepal captain Paudel struck dismissing Athanaze with a good catch by Rajbanshi. Chase and Athanaze added 43 runs for the 3rd wicket. Chase and Carty steadied the ship for West Indies keeping momentum going taking singles and hitting boundaries easily.
Bohara dismissed Carty ending a 60-run partnership for the 4th wicket. Chase looked impressive keeping the strike rotating reaching fifty off just 36 deliveries. Chase and Alleyne played with intent not allowing Nepal bowlers to settle. West Indies captain Chase was dismissed in the last over for 74. Chase and Alleyne added 57 runs for the 5th wicket. West Indies posted 204 for 5 in 20 overs. For Nepal, Airee, Singh Airee, Paudel, and Bohara took 1 wicket each.
Rohit Paudel led from the front
Chasing down 205 runs to win, Nepal lost two early wickets of Anil Sah and Kushal Bhurtel cheaply. Rohit Paudel came to the crease showing intent right from the word go putting enough pressure on West Indies bowlers. At the end of the first six overs, Nepal ended at 43 for 2.
After the field restrictions, Paudel kept the momentum for Nepal with some lusty shots not allowing West Indies bowlers to settle. Paudel reached fifty off just 27 deliveries which kept Nepal in the run chase. Kushal Malla was run out leaving Nepal in some trouble.
Paudel and Kushal Malla added 44 runs for the 3rd wicket. Paudel maintained the pressure with some lusty shots while Dipendra Singh Airee also showed his class. Paudel and Airee added 64 runs for the 4th wicket.
Paudel maintained his composure reaching a century off 47 balls that kept Nepal on course for a famous win. The match went right down the wire as Gulshan Jha hit an important boundary that made life easy for Nepal. He hit another boundary to help Nepal win by 4 wickets with 2 balls to spare.
Matthew Forde and McCoy took 2 wickets each for West Indies. For his 112 off 54 balls and 1 for 10 in 1 over, Paudel was named the player of the match award. Nepal takes 1-0 lead in the 5-match T20I series.
The second match of the series will be played on the 28th of April and hope for another classic encounter.
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