DUBAI — The West Indies may have already lost the series, but they ended on a thunderous note, crushing Nepal by 10 wickets in the third and final T20I on Tuesday in Sharjah.
It was a dominant performance that denied Nepal a historic clean sweep, even as the hosts still celebrated their ground-breaking 2-1 series triumph — their first-ever against a full-member nation.
Hosein sets the tone, Simmonds steals the show
Opting to bowl first on a surface offering steady movement, the West Indies immediately asserted control. Captain Akeal Hosein led from the front with a tight opening spell, strangling Nepal’s scoring opportunities during a power play littered with 20 dot balls.
Player of the Series Kushal Bhurtel tried to resist, striking a spirited 39, but the innings was soon hijacked by the introduction of Ramon Simmonds. Drafted in for this must-win clash, the left-arm quick tore through Nepal’s middle order with a searing burst.
Simmonds struck in his very first overs, dismissing skipper Rohit Paudel (17) and Aarif Sheikh (6), while a run-out accounted for Gulsan Jha (10). His relentless accuracy triggered a collapse that saw Nepal slide from promise to peril at 91 for 5 in the 15th over. He finished with extraordinary figures of 4 for 15 from three overs, deservedly named Player of the Match, as Nepal folded for 122 all out.
Jangoo and Auguste flatten Nepal’s attack
If Nepal harbored any hope of defending their modest total, West Indies openers Amir Jangoo and Ackeem Auguste extinguished it immediately. Jangoo announced his intent in the opening over, hoisting Karan KC onto the stadium roof, and from there the assault never relented.
The left-handed pair powered to 47 inside the powerplay, dismantling Nepal’s plans with clean, confident strokeplay. A dropped chance by Paudel — reprieving Auguste on 29 — summed up Nepal’s deflated spirit.
Jangoo, oozing confidence, shifted gears after reaching a run-a-ball start. He accelerated in breathtaking fashion, raising his fifty from just 38 balls and then pummeling five sixes in his last nine deliveries. He finished unbeaten on a blistering 74 not out, while Auguste’s composed 41 not out provided the perfect support.
Together they raced home with 46 deliveries to spare, sealing the West Indies’ first-ever 10-wicket win in T20 internationals.
Consolation for West Indies, history for Nepal
While this emphatic victory showcased the Caribbean side’s depth and firepower, it could not erase the broader picture: Nepal had already secured the series, an achievement that will be remembered as a watershed moment in their cricketing journey.
For the West Indies, however, the commanding display in Sharjah offered a glimpse of the talent and resilience they will hope to harness more consistently in the months ahead.
