Despite securing a 3-2 series victory, West Indies ‘A’ cricket team experienced disappointment in the final match of their five-match Twenty20 series against Nepal, conceding a six-wicket defeat to the hosts on Saturday.
The match, held at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, saw Nepal’s purposeful bowling and solid batting performance overshadow the efforts of the Caribbean side.
Left-arm pacer Obed McCoy showcased his skills, claiming three wickets for 36 runs from 3.5 overs for West Indies ‘A’. However, Nepal’s Anil Sah and Aasif Sheikh, both bound for the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup, delivered impressive batting performances. Sah scored a top-notch 58 off 45 balls, while Sheikh contributed 51 off 35 balls, laying the groundwork for Nepal’s successful chase of 173 runs.
Hayden Walsh Jr.’s costly over
As the match approached its climax, leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr.’s costly over, conceding 16 runs, including two crucial sixes to Sah, shifted the momentum in Nepal’s favor. Although McCoy managed to dismiss Sah in the following over, Nepal’s Kushal Malla’s power hitting, including a crucial six and four off McCoy’s penultimate over, secured victory for the hosts with seven balls remaining.
The series, played exclusively at the TUICG, ended with Nepal clinching the final match, mirroring the outcome of the opening encounter where Nepal emerged victorious. Despite consistent batting efforts from West Indies ‘A’, led by Alick Athanaze’s 42 runs, the visitors posted a respectable total of 172 for seven after opting to bat first.
Notable contributions from West Indies ‘A’ captain Roston Chase (33 runs), Johnson Charles (24 runs), and Matthew Forde (23 runs) bolstered their batting line-up. However, Nepal’s bowlers, spearheaded by pacer Sompal Kami (three wickets for 16 runs) and left-arm spinner Sagar Dhakal (three wickets for 17 runs), contained the opposition effectively, restricting their scoring opportunities.
