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Nepal and West Indies meet again on September 29 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with the hosts leading the three-match series 1-0 after a stunning upset in the opener. Nepal’s victory was not just their first over the Caribbean side but also their maiden win against a Full Member nation in T20Is, making this clash a golden chance to clinch a historic series.
In the first game, Nepal posted a competitive 148/8, thanks to captain Rohit Paudel’s 38, a fluent knock from Kushal Malla (30), and crucial lower-order contributions from Gulsan Jha and Dipendra Singh Airee. Their bowlers then executed brilliantly on a sluggish Sharjah pitch, with spinners applying relentless pressure. The West Indies, missing key senior players, never found rhythm in their chase, finishing at 129/9, despite fighting efforts from Fabian Allen, Jason Holder and skipper Akeal Hosein.
Heading into the second match, Nepal will look to replicate their composure and seize an unassailable lead, while the West Indies must regroup quickly to avoid the embarrassment of a series defeat.
NEP vs WI, 2nd T20I: Match Details
- Date and Time: September 29, 8:00 pm IST / 02:30 pm GMT / 06:30 pm local
- Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium has historically favoured batters in the T20 format. With short boundaries and a lightning-quick outfield, run-scoring becomes easier, and teams often look to cash in during the powerplay overs. However, spinners are expected to play a key role in the middle overs, as the surface can offer grip and turn, particularly under the lights. Fast bowlers usually depend on slower variations and yorkers at the death rather than raw pace.
Chasing has generally been the preferred option at Sharjah, with teams batting second enjoying more success. Captains winning the toss are likely to opt for bowling first, aiming to have a clear target under lights. Fans can expect a high-scoring contest if batters settle in early, but spinners could be crucial in controlling the scoring rate during the middle phase of the innings.
Squads
West Indies: Jewel Andrew (wk), Navin Bidaisee, Keacy Carty, Karima Gore, Amir Jangoo, Fabian Allen, Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein (c), Obed McCoy, Jediah Blades, Shamar Springer, Ramon Simmonds, Ackeem Auguste, Zishan Motara
Nepal: Sundeep Jora, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Paudel (c), Gulsan Jha, Dipendra Singh Airee, Karan KC, Aarif Sheikh, Sompal Kami, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nandan Yadav, Shahab Alam, Lokesh Bam, Kushal Malla, Mohammad Aadil Alam
Also READ: Fans go berserk as Nepal records historic win over West Indies in the 1st T20I in Sharjah
NEP vs WI, Today’s match prediction
Case 1:
Nepal wins the toss and bats first
NEP powerplay score: 30-40
NEP overall score: 140-150
Case 2:
West Indies wins the toss and bats first
WI powerplay score: 40-50
WI overall score: 160-170
Match result: West Indies to win the contest.
