Nepal vs West Indies Match 25 Full Commentary

We are all set for the chase to get underway. The two umpires make their way out to the middle, followed by Rohit Paudel and his men. Out walks Shai Hope to open the innings alongside Brandon King. Nepal are starting with pace. Here's Karan KC from over the wicket. King to face. Let's go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

West Indies eye a Super 8 berth - Even with a mixed bag death-over phase, West Indies will feel they have the firepower to chase down 134 runs with ease. Matthew Forde was prolific up top and bowled 4 overs on the trot, conceding just 10 runs and picking up a wicket as well. Jason Holder got a couple of wickets in the final over and ended up with a four-fer. The likes of Gudakesh Motie and Shamar Joseph were off colour but Akeal Hosein and Roston Chase were fairly economical. Right then, 134 is the target for the Windies to go on and become the first team from their group to seal a Super 8 berth. Nepal have a fairly decent bowling lineup and we have seen the Windies batters being susceptible against the googlies and Sandeep Lamichhane will have to be at his best if Nepal are to have any shot of staying alive in the competition. The run chase is up next.

Nepal's early struggles - We saw Nepal have a torrid time in the Powerplay with the bat in their last game against Italy and once again, they were hampered by a pretty dreadful start. Losing 4 wickets in just over 6 overs is always tough to recover from but the likes of Dipendra Singh Airee and then a bit of help from Gulshan Jha managed to steady things a touch. Sompal Kami also played a handy cameo towards the end, propelling Nepal to a total beyond the 130-run mark. However, Airee's 58 off 47 balls was certainly the difference between a score of under 100 and the actual score of 133.

Enough of a comeback? Nepal have finished strong barring that final over and the fireworks from Dipendra Singh Airee have taken them to a respectable total. The big question still remains - is 133 going to be enough against this West Indian lineup? Only time will tell, but it's advantage West Indies at the innings interval.

The next batter is Karan KC.

That's a wrap from Mumbai - So a very comfortable win for West Indies at the Wankhede, and a lot to work on for Nepal. But the day has just begun as we move down south in Chennai for the second game of the day. The USA go up against Namibia in a Group A clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Our buildup has already begun for that match, and the toss is just a few minutes away as well. You can switch the tabs and get all the updates from that game. But from here, we sign off. Take care, cheers!

The victorious captain of West Indies - Shai Hope says it is very pleasing to have qualified for the next round, and with one hurdle crossed, it is on to the next. He adds that he is glad the boys consistently put the ball in the right areas and is very happy with the bowlers’ effort. Hope mentions there was a bit of moisture in the surface, which they felt they could exploit. He jokes about their struggles with winning tosses and smiles, saying it was nice to finally win one. Personally, he is pleased to have contributed, especially at crunch time in this tournament, which is when you really want to fire. He emphasises the importance of continuing their brand of cricket and focusing on the finer details, hoping they can carry this momentum all the way through to the back end of the competition. Speaking about Matthew Forde, Hope says he has been hitting his areas consistently and while he does not have express pace, Forde gets just enough movement and makes the most of whatever assistance is on offer.

The captain of Nepal - Rohit Paudel reflects on the defeat. Mentions that batting first in the morning was a big challenge and praises the bowlers of West Indies. He notes that the bowlers made good use of the conditions and admits that the batting unit struggled again, highlighting the need to improve. Paudel points out that the team is lacking substantial partnerships, often managing stands of 20 or 30 without converting starts into big scores. Commenting on Airee’s half-century, Paudel praises the way he paced his innings. Details that he bided his time on a difficult wicket before accelerating towards the end, setting an example for the team to follow.

... Time to hear from the captains ...

Lots to think about moving forward - The difference between the two teams was obvious in every department. Nepal have displayed promise with the bat and ball throughout the tournament, but their fielding still needs sharpness. They will be looking ahead to their final game against Scotland, hoping to finish with an improved performance in all domains.

A perfect base - West Indies weren't chasing a mountain of a target. They just needed a stable start, which they got through King and Hope. King could not quite turn his start into something bigger, but Shimron Hetmyer walked in and picked up the thread with Hope to keep the chase on cruise control. The pair added 91 runs together, pretty much sealing the chase with much fuss, with Hope finishing strong with a statement half century, staying unbeaten on 61 off 44 balls.

Turbulence throughout - Nepal’s innings never really got clearance for takeoff, stalling at 46/5 around the 11th over. It took Deependra Singh Airee playing the role of a crisis pilot, breaking them out of trouble alongside Sompal Kami with a 54-run stand, to avoid a complete nosedive. Airee’s composed 58 and Sompal’s handy 26 dragged them past 130, though it still felt a few stops short of a competitive total. West Indies executed their plans with the ball with near-perfection. They struck the right notes from the outset, never letting Nepal settle into any rhythm and picking wickets at regular intervals. The effort was led brilliantly by Jason Holder, whose 4 for 27 kept Nepal constantly on the back foot.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Jason Holder gets the award for his inspiring bowling spell of 4/27. He says that with it being a day game, the conditions were different, with the ball doing a lot more, and it was difficult to hit through the line. Praises Matthew Forde for his outstanding new-ball spell that helped in setting the tone. Shares that he has been working on bowling yorkers from round the wicket and feels that it is important to be unpredictable in this format. Speaking about his role in the team, Holder says one of his key responsibilities is to support the players as much as possible, especially under pressure. He adds that the bowlers have been very receptive and mentions that the head coach, Daren Sammy, has discussed plans in detail, which has aided their preparation. Holder also emphasises the importance of listening to teammates and understanding what they observe in the middle, rather than simply instructing them.

The Men in Maroon rally up - A clinical and resounding win for West Indies, which makes them the first team to advance to the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2026. With this, they also maintain their spotless record at the Wankhede Stadium in the history of the T20 World Cups. Nepal, meanwhile, have plenty of lessons to chew on. They gave England a scare, but two lacklustre outings since then have seen them bow out of the tournament earlier than they would have hoped.

DRINKS BREAK! Just the last rites left to be written in this contest. It has been a steady chase from West Indies. Their skipper, Shai Hope, spending crucial time at the crease is invaluable as they stand on the brink of sealing a Super 8 spot. After showing plenty of promise in their campaign opener against England, it has all petered out for Nepal since. They simply haven't managed to pose any real threat with the ball while defending a below-par total.

A quick concussion check for Aasif Sheikh. He is ready to resume.