KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Nepal have been eliminated from the group stage of the ICC T20 World Cup after losing all three of their matches. In their third game, West Indies chased down Nepal’s target of 134 runs in just 15.2 overs for the loss of one wicket.
For Nepal, Sompal Kami became the first Nepalese player to feature in three T20 World Cups.
Chasing Nepal’s 134-run total, West Indies captain Shai Hope remained unbeaten on 61 off 44 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes, while Shimron Hetmyer scored an unbeaten 46 off 32 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. The pair added an unbeaten 91-run partnership for the second wicket.
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Earlier, Nepal batted first after losing the toss and managed 133 for eight in 20 overs. Vice-captain Dipendra Singh Aireetop-scored with 58 runs off 47 balls, hitting 3 fours and 3 sixes, completing his fifty in 44 balls with a six off Shamar Joseph. This made him the second Nepalese player to score a T20 World Cup fifty, after Subash Khakurel in 2014.
Sompal Kami remained unbeaten on 26, and Nepal’s highest partnerships were 54 runs for the seventh wicket with Dipendra and Sompal, and 27 runs for the sixth wicket with Dipendra and Gulshan Jha.
Nepal struggled in the six-over powerplay, losing 3 wickets for just 22 runs — the lowest powerplay total for Nepal in T20 World Cups. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Rohit Paudel fell early, and the team was reduced to 46 for 5 before Dipendra and Sompal revived the innings briefly.
For West Indies, Jason Holder took four wickets, while Akil Hossain, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph, and Roston Chase took one wicket each.
With this win, West Indies remained undefeated in Group C, securing a spot in the Super 8 stage with six points. England are second with four points, while Scotland and Italy have two points each. Nepal ended the group stage without any points, and their final match against Scotland will only be for pride.
