West Indies registered a dominating 10-wicket victory over Nepal after two consecutive defeats in the T20I series. West Indies chased down the target of 123 with 10 wickets in hand and 46 balls to spare. In doing so, West Indies openers Amir Jangoo and Ackeem Auguste entered record books. Their unbeaten 123-run partnership is the highest opening stand against Nepal in T20Is.
The previous best belonged to India's Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal who shared a 103-run partnership against Nepal in Hangzhou Asian Games 2023.
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This is the first time West Indies have won a T20I by 10 wickets. Also, this is first instance of Nepal suffering a 10-wicket loss in the format.
The unbeaten 123-run partnership is also West Indies' fourth-highest in a successful run chase. The top spot belongs to Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels with a 152-run partnership for the second wicket against South Africa in 2015.
Simmons picks up 4!
On September 30 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, captain Akeal Hosein won the toss and opted to bowl first. Ramon Simmonds claimed four wickets for 15 runs as Nepal were bowled out for 122 in 19.5 overs. Opener Kushal Bhurtel top-scored with a 29-ball 39.
Decent start, finish with a flourish
After getting dropped off the first ball, Jangoo made the most of it. Auguste did the bulk of scoring in the powerplay overs. West Indies were 47 for no loss after six overs. Jangoo accelerated and reached his fifty with two consecutive sixes. He took 38 balls to scored his maiden T20I half-century. On the second ball of 13th over, Jangoo hit Sompal Kami for a six to finish the run chase.
Jangoo's unbeaten 45-ball 74 is laced with five fours and six sixes. On the other end, Auguste has scored 41 runs from 29 balls, featuring four fours and a couple of sixes. Simmons was named 'Player of the match' for his four-fer.
“To come out and give that sort of performance after losing two games was excellent and quite clinical as well. When we looked at the pitch today, totally different pitch, the guys were pleased at the amount of grass on it. They just went out and executed. A new opening combination, even though it was a small score, we need to set the platform and take on the powerplay, that's what the guys did,” Hosein said in the post-match presentation.