Nepal achieved a historic milestone in international cricket by defeating the West Indies by 19 runs in the first T20I of their three-match series in Sharjah on Saturday, September 27, 2025. This victory marks Nepal's first-ever win against a full member nation of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The West Indies won the toss and chose to field first, a decision they might have reconsidered as the game unfolded. Nepal's innings saw early setbacks, with openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh falling cheaply, leaving the score at 12/2 in the fourth over. However, captain Rohit Paudel (38 off 35 balls) and Kusal Malla (30 off 21) steadied the ship with a 58-run partnership. Gulsan Jha (22 off 16) and Dipendra Singh Airee (17 off 19) also contributed to Nepal reaching a total of 148/8 in their 20 overs. Jason Holder was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, taking 4-20, while Navin Bidaisee claimed 3-29.
The West Indies' chase got off to a poor start when Kyle Mayers was run out for just five runs. The batting never gained momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Amir Jangoo (19), Ackeem Auguste (15), Keacy Carty (16), and Navin Bidaisee (22) all had brief stays at the crease. Late resistance from Fabian Allen (19 off 14) and captain Akeal Hosein (18 off 9) wasn't enough, as the West Indies could only manage 129/9 in their 20 overs. Kushal Bhurtel took 2-17, leading a consistent Nepal bowling attack that maintained pressure throughout the innings.
Nepal's victory was a historic moment, being their first-ever win against a Full Member nation. Although Nepal had previously defeated Afghanistan in a T20I in 2014, Afghanistan was still an Associate side at the time. This win against the two-time T20 World Cup champions marks a significant achievement for Nepal.
According to ESPNcricinfo, six Nepalese batters cleared the ropes at least once, six bowlers took a wicket each, and their fielding consistently outshone that of their opponents. Dipendra Singh Airee's brilliant fielding further hurt the West Indies' chase, running out Keacy Carty with a sharp throw.
After the match, Captain Rohit Paudel dedicated the victory to the "martyrs who participated in protest". He also acknowledged the significance of the win, especially as it came in a series hosted in the UAE.
The second T20I of the series is scheduled for September 29.
