END OF OVER:20 | 8 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 129/9 (20 runs required, RR: 6.45)
- Obed McCoy0 (3b)
- Dipendra Singh Airee3-0-20-1
- Karan KC3-0-17-1
Phew, what a day of cricket! Nepal takes a crucial 1-0 lead in the series with a historic win and will return to this ground on September 29th to try and seal the series. For the West Indies, there's an inexperienced squad with a lot of work to do, and little time left to salvage the series. That's all the action from us today. Thank you all for joining us and staying with us throughout this breathtaking session of cricket. Time to say goodbye. This is Rashad Mahbub, signing off on behalf of Chetan Kumar and the rest of the ESPNcricinfo crew. Goodnight and goodbye!
Abhishek: "First ever win against a full-member team. Thank you team! Now, let's get the series. All the best for next two matches "
sijan bhattarai: "please keep this comment here for the reckrd book?this is a historic achievement for Nepali cricket.. Lets hope we can live the moment and continue growing up..This game scorecard will be seen many times by the Nepali fans now "
Player of the Match, Rohit Paudel: "[Historic Victory] Absolutely, I think it feels great, especially after a long wait to beat a Test-playing country. It finally came in a historic series where we hosted it in the UAE. I thought the score was good, and the pitch was good. I think 150-160 was par here, because the team batting first was winning around that score in the previous series. So we were looking for 150-160 to give a tough challenge. We have done better in 80-90% of our skills. The experience that Karan KC and Sompal Kami bring to the table sold it today. Our fielding was outstanding, we were brilliant between the wickets, and our spinners were exceptional. Kushal Bhurtel bowled really well today. [Dedication & Message to Nepal] I want to dedicate this Man of the Match award to the martyrs who lost their lives in the Gen-Z protest in Nepal. The last month has not been great for us, so if we can give a little bit of happiness to the people of Nepal, I think that would be great. [Leading the Series] Obviously, coming into the series, the mindset was very clear: if you are coming here to play a series, it is to win the series. The way we played today, I think this potentially gives us a high chance to win, but we will stay grounded and do our process right. We will follow whatever comes next."
Akeal Hosein: "That's the game of cricket, to be involved in front of a really good crowd. Both sides played good cricket. Unfortunately, we didn't do enough work to come over the line with a win. [Score difference] I thought 148 was a decent score on a good pitch. Maybe I thought we gave away 15 runs too much, but we were very confident that we could have chased that score. Nepal also fielded well to get two run-outs. Those things are always crucial, and those things break the back of batting teams. [Four Debutants] I think we've got the talent and the skill. It's just about going out there and executing. I think we definitely need to set a better platform, and that way, you can give the guys a fair chance to come and finish the game. Without a platform, and you're losing wickets at the wrong time, you're always going to be under pressure and be behind the eight ball when you're chasing."
Kushal Bhurtel: "[On the Historic Win] I feel really happy to beat the West Indies, one of the toughest sides in T20 cricket. Whenever I get to contribute with the bat or the ball, I love it. That night against South Africa was very memorable, but today was really good. Talking about Nepal right now, it's a very crucial, critical situation back home. But after the win, I think we gave lots of happiness to the Nepalese back in Nepal and in Dubai as well. Credit goes to all the bowlers; they bowled really well. In the grand scheme, we knew 140-150 would be enough against this inexperienced West Indies side. We beat them in a T20 game, and it feels really good. The head coach wanted us to lose the nickname 'cardiac kids,' and we did that tonight. [First Win Against a Test Nation] This is the first win for Nepal against a Test nation, so I feel really happy."
Bishal Parajuli: "The wait is over. The belief has paid off. Nepal has arrived on the world stage."
Shrochis : "I was in the stands when we lost by one run to South Africa in lost year's world cup. I did not think I would live to see this day"
10:16 pm What a moment for Nepal! They secure a 1-0 series lead, handing the West Indies their fourth loss to an Associate nation in T20 cricket. Nepal struck early, with Bhurtel's individual brilliance securing a direct-hit run-out to dismiss Mayers in the second over. Auguste tried to counter-attack with quick boundaries but lost his wicket after a brisk 15 runs off 7 balls. Skipper Rohit Paudel then got the wicket of Jewel Andrew, who had a disappointing day both with the bat and in the field. The Nepalese fielders were lightning quick on the ground, saving several runs and keeping the batters at bay. The West Indies batters battled to rotate the strike against the controlled bowling and outstanding fielding, stacking up dot balls and losing wickets under pressure. Nepal missed three chances in the 18th over; two of them dwere ropped catches and one was a no-ball. Akeal Hosein provided a ray of hope with 18 runs off 9 balls, but the West Indies fell shy by 19 runs in the end. Bhurtel picked up two wickets, with the remaining five wickets shared by five other bowlers. Don't go anywhere folks, post-match presentation ceremony coming up shortly.
Nepal won by 19 runs
FA Allen c Bhurtel b Airee 19 (14b 3x4 0x6) SR: 135.71
28 needed from the last over, here's Airee, around the wicket
END OF OVER:19 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 121/8 (28 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.36, RRR: 28.00)
- Obed McCoy0 (3b)
- Fabian Allen11 (8b)
- Karan KC3-0-17-1
- Sompal Kami4-0-43-0
McCoy in
AJ Hosein c Gulsan Jha b Karan KC 18 (9b 1x4 2x6) SR: 200
Continues around the wicket
Khalid : "dont write off WI just yet! they are know for firework when needed"
Here's Karan KC, 30 runs needed off 12 balls. Around the wicket
END OF OVER:18 | 19 Runs | WI: 119/7 (30 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.61, RRR: 15.00)
- Akeal Hosein17 (7b)
- Fabian Allen10 (7b)
- Sompal Kami4-0-43-0
- Kushal Bhurtel4-0-17-2
Free Hit
END OF OVER:17 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 100/7 (49 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.88, RRR: 16.33)
- Akeal Hosein6 (3b)
- Fabian Allen3 (4b)
- Kushal Bhurtel4-0-17-2
- Sompal Kami3-0-24-0
Only the second debutant in T20I after Hayden Walsh to achieve this remarkable record.
N Bidaisee hit wicket b Bhurtel 22 (25b 1x4 1x6) SR: 88
