Mumbai, 15 February (Sports Desk)
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Match 25 (Group C) between Nepal and West Indies was played on February 15, 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India. West Indies delivered a commanding performance, winning by 9 wickets with 28 balls remaining. This victory secured West Indies as the first team to qualify for the Super 8s from Group C (with a match to spare), while it knocked Nepal out of the tournament.
- Toss: West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl first.
- Nepal innings: 133/8 (20 overs)
- West Indies innings: 134/1 (15.2 overs)
- Result: West Indies won by 9 wickets (with 28 balls remaining).
- Player of the Match: Jason Holder (West Indies) for his match-winning spell of 4/27 in 4 overs. Holder’s experience shone through with disciplined lines, bounce from his height, and key breakthroughs that dismantled Nepal’s middle order. This haul also marked him reaching a milestone as West Indies’ leading T20I wicket-taker in some reports.
Nepal Innings (133/8 in 20 overs)
Nepal struggled early against West Indies’ pace attack on a day game where the ball moved and bounced more than expected. They slumped to 27/4 after 8 overs and 23/4 at one point in the powerplay (slowest of the tournament so far). A gritty recovery came via Dipendra Singh Airee‘s fighting half-century, but the total remained modest against a strong bowling unit.
Key performers for Nepal:
- Dipendra Singh Airee: 58 (top scorer; anchored with resilience and accelerated late).
- Sompal Kami: 26* (quick cameo, including three consecutive boundaries off Holder in the 18th over for Nepal’s best over).
Jason Holder’s bowling highlights (4/27):
- Exploited bounce and seam movement.
- Claimed multiple wickets in the middle and death overs, including two in his final over.
- Broke partnerships and prevented big momentum shifts.
- Figures included tight economy and crucial dots (11 dots noted in highlights).
Other WI bowlers:
- Matthew Forde: 1/10 (impressive new-ball spell; economical and took an early wicket).
- Others like Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, and Shamar Joseph contributed to the squeeze, with only late runs leaking.
watch….Jansen’s Fire & Markram’s Fury: Proteas Crush Kiwis by 7 Wickets!
West Indies Innings (134/1 in 15.2 overs)
Chasing 134, West Indies made light work with an unbeaten opening stand and aggressive intent. They reached the target comfortably without pressure.
Key performers:
- Captain Shai Hope (wk): 61* off ~42-44 balls (unbeaten anchor; calm and clinical, guiding the chase).
- Shimron Hetmyer: 46* off 32 balls (explosive support; powerful hitting to finish quickly).
- Brandon King: 22 (brief contribution before dismissal).
The only wicket fell to Nandan Yadav (1/24), but spinners like Sandeep Lamichhane (0/38) couldn’t stem the flow. West Indies raced past with 28 balls spare, showcasing depth and firepower.
This was a clinical, all-round display from West Indies—disciplined bowling led by Holder’s experience, followed by a dominant chase. Nepal showed fight (especially Airee), but the gap in experience and execution was clear. West Indies advance to the Super 8s (likely joining England’s group), maintaining strong form.
