Overview

• Nepal defended 148/8 to restrict West Indies to 129/9 in Sharjah, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
• Rohit Paudel top-scored with 38 off 35 and Kushal Malla added 30; Jason Holder led West Indies’ attack with 4/20 and debutant Navin Bidaisee took 3/29.
• Kushal Bhurtel’s direct-hit run-out of Kyle Mayers set the tone for the chase, and he finished with 2/17 as Nepal’s fielding forced key errors.
• Akeal Hosein captained a second-string West Indies side featuring several debutants, with regular skipper Shai Hope rested.
• Paudel dedicated the victory to protest ‘martyrs’ back home, as reports highlighted the result’s wider significance for Nepalese cricket and supporters; the second T20I is on September 29 in Sharjah.