Kathmandu: The West Indies team set an imposing target of 340 runs for Nepal in the ongoing ICC World Cup Qualifiers match played at Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe.
Winning the toss and inviting West Indies to bat first, the first innings witnessed a batting spectacle as the West Indies batsmen unleashed their power and aggression. The Nepali team started off well taking three wickets in 16 overs. At one stage, the West Indies team were 55 for 3.
Despite the early wickets, Shai Hope, the West Indies captain, showcased his exceptional batting prowess. He displayed brilliant stroke play and remained resilient throughout his innings, accumulating a remarkable 132 runs off 129 balls. His century, combined with a strike rate of 102.32, proved to be a vital contribution in the team’s pursuit of a massive target.
Nicholas Pooran joined forces with Hope and added substantial firepower to the West Indies innings. Pooran’s aggressive approach paid dividends as he hammered an impressive 115 runs off just 94 balls, including 10 boundaries and 4 sixes.
Rovman Powell provided a late onslaught, scoring a quickfire 29 runs off 14 deliveries at an astonishing strike rate of 207.14. He was caught by Gulsan Jha off Rajbanshi’s bowling. Jason Holder contributed a valuable unbeaten 16 runs from 10 balls to bolster the West Indies total.
Nepali bowlers faced a tough challenge in containing the West Indies batsmen, as they unleashed an array of powerful strokes and aggressive shots. Lalit Rajbanshi was the pick of the bowlers for Nepal, taking three wickets, while Karan KC and Gulsan Jha claimed one wicket each.
Nepal now faces an uphill battle as they prepare to chase down the daunting total set by the West Indies.
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