Nepalregistered a resounding 90-run win against West Indies in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. With this, they took an unassailable lead in the series to create history. Nepal’s 90-run win makes the margin the biggest in a win by an associate nation against a full-member side in men’s T20Is.
Akeal Hosein struck twice in his first couple of overs to dismiss Kushal Bhurtel and Rohit Paudel for single-digit scores before Nepal regained momentum with 14-run sixth
over, with Aasif Sheikh stroking Hosein for three boundaries to take the score to 39/2 by the end of the powerplay. Zishan Motara was greeted to the crease with a 13-run over. By the halfway stage, Nepal were 74/3.
Sheikh continued to amass runs from his end and brought up his eighth T20I half-century while Sundeep Jora played an attacking hand before falling in the 18th over. His brilliant 63-run knock entailed three fours and five sixes, coming off in 39 balls. Nepal pushed their total past 170 with overs 16 to 20 yielding 65 runs, setting West Indies a target of 174 to stay alive in the series.
Nepal stayed on top of their game with the ball as well, as it was nothing short of a stunning powerplay display by them. Dipendra Singh Airee and Karan KC gave nothing away, conceding only seven runs in their collective five overs. A maximum by Ackeem Auguste in the sixth over took West Indies' team score into double digits, but they could manage a paltry 16 runs in the powerplay.
Mohammad Aadil Alam was amongst the wickets ever since his first over. At the halfway stage, West Indies had lost four wickets with only 41 on the board. Alam continued to strike and ended with a magnificent four-wicket haul while Kushal Bhurtel came back with a double-wicket maiden after leaking 16 in his first over. The West Indies were eventually bundled out for 83 in 17.1 overs, losing by a record margin of 90 runs.
The third and final T20I of the series will be played on September 20 at the same venue.
