DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – West Indies’ batters faltered as soon as once more, this time towards minnows Nepal, on their strategy to a humiliating 19-run defeat of their opening T20I right here on Saturday.
Jason Holder and Navin Bidaisee shared seven wickets between them and had been the principle purpose Nepal was restricted to 148 for eight from 20 overs, after they had been despatched in to bat on the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
However confronted with a seemingly easy run chase, Bidaisee was the one batter to attain greater than 20, because the Windies had been restricted to 129 for 9 of their 20 overs to provide Nepal their first-ever win towards a Full Member.
It additionally propelled them to a 1-0 lead within the three-match Unity Cup sequence.
For captain and Participant-of-the-Match, Rohit Paudel, the victory was not solely historic but additionally welcomed, because it capped off a tough few weeks for the folks of Nepal.
“I feel it feels nice, particularly after a protracted wait to beat a Check-playing nation. It lastly got here in a historic sequence, which we hosted within the UAE.
“I need to dedicate this Man-of-the-Match award to the martyrs who misplaced their lives within the Gen-Z protest in Nepal. The final month has not been nice for us, so if we can provide a bit little bit of happiness to the folks of Nepal, I feel that might be nice,” Paudel stated in a post-match interview.
For the umpteenth time, the West Indies’ prime order batters did not ship, as their opponent, ranked 18th within the ICC T20I rankings, dominated them with their plethora of medium pacers and spinners.
Opener Kyle Mayers drove the primary ball of the innings from pacer Dipendra Singh Airee by way of cowl for 4. Nonetheless, after including only one extra run, he was spectacularly run out by a direct throw from Kushal Bhurtel stationed at further cowl.
Ackeem Auguste, one among 4 debutants within the West Indies aspect, regarded good throughout his temporary knock of 15 off seven balls, and along with Amir Jangoo carried the rating to 32 for one within the fifth over.
Nonetheless, when Auguste mistimed his tried drive off Nandan Yadav to be caught on the fringe of the circle, it triggered a collapse that noticed them spectacularly lose 5 wickets for simply 44 runs.
Paudel had Jewel Andrew caught at lengthy on for 5, Jangoo was outfoxed by Lalit Rajbanshi and was caught at deep backward sq. for 19, Keacy Carty was needlessly run out for 16 trying a suicide single, and Holder made simply 5 earlier than being dismissed by Bhurtel to see them hunch to 76 for six within the fifteenth over.
Bidaisee, who top-scored with 22, Fabian Allen, who made 19, and captain Akeal Hosein, who hit 18 from 9 balls, tried their finest to revive the innings however couldn’t sustain with the required run charge, and so they finally fell properly in need of their goal.
Earlier, Holder grabbed 4 wickets and Bidaisee three, as West Indies did properly to include Nepal.
Nepal additionally discovered themselves in early hassle following the early lack of openers Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh, which noticed them slip to 12 for 2. Nonetheless, Paudel, who topscored with 38, and Kushal Malla, who made 30, got here to their rescue throughout a 58-run partnership for the third wicket.
And after Bidaisee eliminated each batsmen in fast succession to depart Nepal 89 for 4 within the thirteenth over, Gulshan Jha and Singh Airee made helpful contributions of twenty-two and 17 respectively to assist get them as much as their eventual complete.
Holder completed with figures of 4-20 from his 4 overs, whereas Bidaisee took 3-29. The second T20I will likely be performed on Monday.
