AI Simulation, NEP vs WI T20Is | Mohammad Aadil Alam and Aasif Sheikh power Nepal to historic clean sweep

‌Pitch & Weather

 A dry Sharjah strip with short square boundaries, offered the best platform for the batters to showcase their might. 

The weather was hot and clear, with dew making its way later in the night, and spinners finding it difficult to grip the ball.

Toss & Conditions

West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Lineups

Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Malla, Sundeep Jora, Gulsan Jha, Mohammad Adil Alam, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi.

West Indies: Jewel Andrew, Kyle Mayers, Keacy Carty, Ackeem Auguste, Amir Jangoo (wk), Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Akeal Hosein (c), Navin Bidaisee, Karima Gore, Obed McCoy.

Match Report

Nepal produced a spirited all-round performance in Sharjah to beat the West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I. Aasif Sheikh’s fluent batting display and medium pacer Mohammad Aadil Alam’s inspired spell headlined Nepal’s win as the Asian side completed a whitewash against their fancied rivals.

Put into bat first at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Nepal began tentatively as Kushal Bhurtel struggled for rhythm before falling for 12 from 14 balls. But Aasif Sheikh continued in the same vein from the last match, timing the ball sweetly to smash six fours and a six during his 30-ball 44. Skipper Rohit Paudel anchored briefly, but it was the middle-order duo of Kushal Malla (28 off 20) and Sundeep Jora (32 off 22) who injected momentum with five towering sixes between them. Despite losing wickets in clusters towards the end of the innings, Nepal posted 153/7, a competitive total on the Sharjah surface. Jason Holder and Akeal Hosein were West Indies’ standouts with the ball, picking up 2/23 and 2/27, respectively, in four overs to keep the target within reach.

Chasing 154, West Indies started steadily, with Mayers striking a few crisp boundaries, but Nepal’s bowlers maintained discipline. Mohammad Aadil Alam struck twice in quick succession, removing Mayers and Keacy Carty, turning the tide in Nepal’s favour. Ackeem Auguste threatened with a 21-ball 27, a knock which included two fours and two sixes, but spinners Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee tightened the screws. Holder and Allen fell cheaply as the asking rate climbed, leaving too much for the tail. The Windies' innings ended at 139/9, with Aadil Alam being the pick among the Nepal bowlers with a spell of 3/26. Bhurtel and Airee chipped in with two wickets each as Nepal completed a clean sweep.

Player of the Match

Mohammad Aadil Alam was named Player of the Match for his decisive spell of 3/26 that derailed the West Indies’ chase.

Scorecard