Kathmandu: In a gripping encounter on Wednesday, Nepal faced a significant setback, falling to a 76-run defeat against West Indies A in the third match of their five-match T20 series.
The defeat now places West Indies A in a commanding position with a 2-1 lead in the series. Chasing a formidable target of 228 runs set by West Indies A, Nepal struggled to find their footing, eventually succumbing to all-out at 151 runs in 19.2 overs.
Lokesh Bam emerged as the top scorer for Nepal with a valiant 28 runs, inclusive of one boundary and two sixes. Karan KC also made a notable contribution with 28 runs off 17 balls, featuring three boundaries and one six. Binod Bhandari, Anil Shah, Aarif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Gulshan Jha, Vivek Yadav, and Dipendra Singh Airee managed to add runs to the scoreboard before being dismissed.
West Indies A’s leg-spinner Hayden Walsh proved to be the nemesis for Nepal, claiming three crucial wickets while conceding 28 runs in his spell of 4 overs. Gudakesh Motie also made an impact, securing 2 wickets for 28 runs in his 4 overs. Obed McCoy, Mathew Forde, and Fabian Allen each contributed with a wicket.
The match unfolded at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, where West Indies A put up a formidable total of 227 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in their allotted 20 overs after winning the toss.
Opener Johnson Charles stole the spotlight with a scintillating century, reaching 119 runs in just 61 balls, adorned with 13 fours and 7 sixes. His partnership with Andre Fletcher, who scored 53 runs off 33 balls, proved instrumental in West Indies A’s imposing total.
Despite efforts from Nepal’s bowlers, including Sagar Dhakal and Karan KC, who managed to claim a wicket each, West Indies A’s batting prowess proved too much to handle. In the earlier encounters of the series, Nepal secured a victory in the first match by 4 wickets but suffered a defeat in the second match by a margin of 10 runs.
The fourth and final matches of the series are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, promising more thrilling cricketing action.