In a commanding performance, West Indies ‘A’ took a 2-1 lead in their Twenty20 series against Nepal, led by opener Johnson Charles’ exceptional century, which earned him the Player-of-the-Match award.
Charles, the 35-year-old St Lucian, showcased his prowess with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 119 off just 61 balls. His innings, studded with 13 fours and seven sixes, laid the foundation for the Caribbean side’s imposing total of 227 for three after choosing to bat first in the third T20 of the five-match series.
Following Charles’ fireworks, leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr. and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie led the bowling attack, each claiming three wickets to restrict Nepal to 151 all out in 19.2 overs.
Despite making four changes to their playing XI, Nepal struggled to counter the Windies’ attack. Opener Lokesh Bam and Karan Khatri Chhetri showed some resistance with scores of 28 each, but no other batsman managed to make a significant contribution.
In response to Nepal’s chase, West Indies ‘A’ took regular wickets to maintain control over the game. Left-arm spinner Fabian Allen made an impact early on, while Walsh Jr. and Motie continued to pick up crucial wickets.
Charles and Andre Fletcher formed a crucial partnership of 145 runs
The Windies sealed the victory convincingly, with the new-ball pair of Obed McCoy and Matthew Forde wrapping up the Nepalese innings.
Looking ahead, the remaining two matches of the series will be played at the same venue on successive days.
In the batting department, Charles and Andre Fletcher formed a crucial partnership of 145 runs for the second wicket, guiding West Indies ‘A’ to a commanding position. Despite Fletcher’s dismissal for 53, Charles continued to dominate, eventually reaching his century in the 17th over.
Nepal’s bowling effort was commendable, with only two bowlers managing to pick up wickets. Gulshan Jha was the most economical, conceding only 24 runs in his four overs, while Kamal Airee proved to be the most expensive.
Charles’ exceptional innings and the team’s all-round performance put West Indies ‘A’ in a strong position in the series, showcasing their depth and talent on the international stage.
