Nepal Claims Historic Victory Over West Indies in T20 Match

KATHMANDU, Nepal – Cricket fans in Nepal are celebrating their team’s historic victory over the West Indies, marking the country’s first-ever win against a Test-playing nation. Nepal triumphed by 19 runs in the first T20 international of a three-match series held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday.

After being asked to bat first, Nepal posted a total of 148 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs. Captain Rohit Paudel led the charge with a score of 38, supported by Kushal Malla, who added 30 runs to the tally. The Nepalese bowlers then put in a strong performance to restrict the two-time world champions to 129 runs.

The match saw lively support from Nepali fans at the stadium, who cheered passionately. Celebrations erupted across Nepal as fans expressed their delight at the historic win, which Chatur Bahadur Chand, president of the Cricket Association of Nepal, described as a significant milestone for the nation.

“It is a historic win for us and helps improve our players’ standing in the cricketing world,” Chand said. The victory was especially meaningful as it came during a challenging time for the country, recovering from a deadly anti-corruption protest that took many lives and led to a government change.

Pujan Thapa, a fan who watched the game in Kathmandu, shared his excitement: “It was not expected, but as the game progressed, we saw there was a chance we could win. We were so happy, we stood up and danced.”

Paudel dedicated the win to the protesters who lost their lives, calling it a small token of happiness for their families. Former chief selector Dipendra Chaudhary emphasized that this win could inspire young cricketers in Nepal and motivate the team for future challenges.

This victory comes as cricket’s popularity grows in Nepal, which was granted one-day international status by the International Cricket Council in 2018. The ministry of sports and fans alike are hopeful for more achievements on the global stage.