West Indies ‘A’ clinches series title with one game remaining (with photos)
Nepal, chasing a winning target of 210 runs for the victory, lost all the wickets in the scheduled 20 overs.
KATHMANDU: In a match held on Thursday, West Indies clinched the T20 series title against with a commanding 3-1 lead against Nepal.
Despite facing defeat in the first game, West Indies ‘A’ bounced back strongly to register their third consecutive victory in the fourth match, securing the series.
In the first game, West Indies ‘A’ handed Nepal a 28-run defeat, successfully defending a formidable total of 210 runs.
Captain Rohit Paudel led Nepal’s batting with yet another outstanding performance, scoring a blistering 82 runs off 47 balls, including 7 fours and 5 sixes.
However, lack of support from other batsmen resulted in Nepal falling short of the target, finishing at 181 runs.
Nepal’s innings got off to a shaky start, with opener Aarif Sheikh being dismissed for a duck by Mathew Forde.
Kushal Bhurtel managed to score only 1 run before falling to Fabian Allen, followed by Kushal Malla getting caught by Roston Chase for a brief cameo.
Sandip Jora showed promise but couldn’t convert it into a substantial score, contributing 19 runs off 14 balls before becoming Hayden Walsh’s victim.
The partnership between Rohit and Dipendra Airee seemed promising, but Rohit’s dismissal for 53 runs halted their momentum, eventually leading to Nepal’s downfall.
Dipendra struggled to find his rhythm, managing only 19 runs off 14 balls before being bowled by Charles.
Gulshan Jha added 19 runs before falling to Athanaze, while Pratish Jaisi failed to make an impact, departing after scoring 4 runs.
West Indies ‘A’ bowlers, led by Forde and Walsh, claimed three wickets each, while Allen and Motie took two wickets each, restricting Nepal to 181 runs.
In response, West Indies ‘A’ chased down the target of 209 runs with ease in 20 overs, losing only 3 wickets and scoring 209 runs.
Andre Fletcher starred with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 84 runs off 54 balls, including 9 fours and 4 sixes.
Johnson Charles contributed 58 runs off 30 balls, while Fabian Allen scored 33 runs before getting out.
Nepal started well with the ball, but failed to capitalize on early breakthroughs, managing to take only two wickets after the initial dismissal.
Pratish GC impressed with the ball, claiming 1 wicket in his spell.
In their chase, Nepal faced early setbacks, losing both openers cheaply.
Pratish GC managed to contribute 43 runs before getting dismissed, while Kushal Bhurtel provided vital breakthroughs, taking 2 wickets in 4 overs.
Other bowlers struggled to make an impact, with Lalit Rajbanshi conceding 53 runs in 4 overs and Avinash Bohora giving away 42 runs in his spell.
Similarly, Sompal Kami and Gulshan Jha managed to take a wicket each but couldn’t contain the opposition’s scoring rate.
Nepal’s victory in the first game, courtesy of Captain Rohit Paudel’s brilliant century, set the tone for the series.
However, West Indies ‘A’ bounced back in the second game to secure a narrow 10-run win.
In the third game, Nepal emerged victorious with a comfortable 76-run win, with Rohit Paudel opting for some well-deserved rest.
The final game of the series is scheduled for the upcoming Saturday, promising another exciting clash between the two teams.
