The Nepal cricket team has carved out a magnificent chapter in their history, stunning the cricketing world with an emphatic 90-run victory over the West Indies in a T20I bilateral series at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on September 29. This commanding win not only secured an unassailable 2-0 series lead but also marked several groundbreaking achievements for the Rohit Paudel-led side.
Nepal script series win over West Indies.
Nepal became the first-ever associate team to defeat a full-member nation in a bilateral series across any format. Furthermore, their colossal 90-run victory margin stands as a new record for the biggest win by a non-Test playing team against a full-member side, showcasing their incredible progress and competitive spirit.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Nepal set a challenging total of 173 runs, despite facing early setbacks with three quick wickets. It was the crucial half-centuries from Asaif Sheikh and Sundeep Jora that anchored the innings and built a formidable score.
The West Indies’ chase quickly faltered under a relentless Nepalese bowling attack. They were bundled out for a mere 83 runs, highlighting the effectiveness of Nepal’s bowlers. Mohammad Aadil Alam was the star performer, claiming an impressive four wickets, while Kushal Bhurtel provided excellent support with three wickets of his own.
This monumental achievement surpasses Afghanistan’s previous record of an 81-run victory over Zimbabwe in 2016 (before Afghanistan gained Test status in 2017). Among current associate nations, Namibia held the prior record with a 55-run win against Sri Lanka in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
This triumph is particularly sweet for Nepal, coming after the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2025 Asia Cup, which controversially included three associate teams for the first time. The team had also narrowly missed a historic victory against South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup, losing in a nail-biting last-over finish.
With this momentum, the Asian team now eagerly anticipates the Asian-EAP qualification tournament for the 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Oman from October 8-17.
For the West Indies, this series defeat adds to a challenging period in international cricket. The Caribbean squad is set to face India in a two-match Test series in just three days, following a tough year that included being dismissed for just 26 runs in a Test against Australia and suffering a 5-0 T20I series whitewash at home against the same opponent.
The foundation for this historic series win was laid with Nepal’s 19-run victory in the first T20I on September 27, setting the stage for their record-breaking performance in the second match.