Desk Report:
From Kathmandu, Pokhara, Jhapa to the summit of Mount Everest and the Annapurna Range. Nepali cricketers have done the impossible. These two sentences are taken from Cricinfo commentary. What better way to analyze Nepal’s victory over the West Indies in Sharjah last night!
Nepal created history by defeating the West Indies by 19 runs in the first T20I of the series in Sharjah last night. After defeating a Test-playing team for the first time, Nepal’s fans and supporters started celebrating the victory. From start to finish, Nepal fought at their best. Let’s see the very last ball of the over. When the West Indies, chasing the target of 149 runs, scored 129 runs for 8 wickets in 19.5 overs, Nepal led by Rohit Paudel won the match. Had Fabian Allen hit four sixes in the last ball, the Caribbeans’ margin of defeat would have been reduced. Allen went to hit Dipendra Singh Airi for a six. Kushal Bhurtel, who was standing on the edge of the boundary, realized that it could be a six when he first took the catch. Then Bhurtel kept his body balance and took a great catch.
After Bhurtel took the catch, Ian Bishop, who was in the commentary box, praised Nepal. After the historic 19-run victory, Nepal’s fans and supporters cheered from the dugout. After defeating the West Indies, Nepal’s Bhurtel said, “I am really happy to beat the West Indies. They are one of the toughest teams in T20. I hope I have brought a happy moment to the Nepali fans and supporters who are in Nepal and Dubai. I am really happy to win my first win against a Test-playing team.”
West Indies captain Akil Hossain won the toss and decided to field early yesterday. Batting first, Nepal scored 148 runs for 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Captain Rohit scored the highest innings of 38 runs. He hit three fours and a six in his 35-ball innings. In reply, the Caribbeans were restricted to 129 for 9 in 20 overs. Rohit was named man of the match for the historic 19-run win. Along with his 38-run innings, he took 1 wicket for 20 runs in 3 overs while bowling. Nepal is one match away from winning the T20 series against a Test-playing team for the first time. The other two T20Is of the Nepal-West Indies series will be played tomorrow and the day after.
