Nepal’s Rain-Shortened Scuffle: West Indies Bowl First in UAE T20I Opener – Asia Cup Warm-Up or Comedy Sketch?
Cricket oddballs, it’s September 27, 2025, and Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE is dishing out a T20I opener that’s shorter than a comedian’s punchline! The first match of the West Indies vs Nepal series – a quirky Asia Cup warm-up – is already in the innings break after rain played spoilsport, limiting Nepal to 89/4 in just 12.4 overs. West Indies, led by the spinning wizard Akeal Hosein, won the toss and bowled first, turning Nepal’s batting into a bad joke. Rohit Paudel’s 38 was the lone chuckle, but with ducks flying and run-outs tripping folks up, this feels more like a sketch show than a series start. Will WI chase 90 like it’s recess, or will Nepal’s bowlers pull a prank? Grab your brolly – and a giggle – as we unpack this soggy, silly half!
Toss and Teams: WI’s Bowling Bait
Akeal Hosein called heads and nailed the toss, opting to bowl under Sharjah’s floodlights – a cheeky call betting on Nepal’s fragility before rain crashed the party. West Indies’ XI was a Caribbean cocktail: Kyle Mayers, Ackeem Auguste, Keacy Carty, Amir Jangoo (wk), Jewel Andrew, Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Akeal Hosein (c), Navin Bidaisee, Obed McCoy, and Ramon Simmonds. Bench had Karima Gore, Jediah Blades, Shamar Springer, and Zishan Motara, with Rawl Lewis and Daren Sammy’s crew scheming comebacks.
Nepal rolled out Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Sundeep Jora, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Malla, Karan KC, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, and Lalit Rajbanshi. Their bench included Aarif Sheikh, Sandeep Lamichhane, Shahab Alam, Lokesh Bam, and Mohammad Aadil Alam, backed by Stuart Law and Nandan Phadnis. Umpires Buddhi Pradhan and Durga Subedi, with Vinay Kumar on third-ump and Vengalil Narayanan Kutty as ref, refereed the romp. Weather? Sunny start, but clouds chuckled last – rain-shortened to 12.4 overs!
Nepal’s Innings: Paudel’s Plod, Ducks and Drama
Nepal’s batting was a comedy sketch gone wrong, stuttering to 89/4 in 12.4 overs before rain called time. Kushal Bhurtel scratched 6 off 11 (SR 54.55) before Akeal Hosein’s left-arm spin stumped him to Amir Jangoo at 8/1 in 2.1. Aasif Sheikh’s 3 off 4 (SR 75.00) looped to Keacy Carty off Holder at 12/2 in 3.1. Rohit Paudel, the skipper, fought with 38 off 35 (3 fours, 1 six, SR 108.57) before Navin Bidaisee’s part-time off-spin had Ackeem Auguste pouching it at 89/4 in 12.4.
Kushal Malla’s 30 off 21 (2 fours, 1 six, SR 142.86) was snuffed by Holder at 70/3 in 10.4. Gulsan Jha 6* off 5 (SR 120.00), Dipendra Singh Airee 0*. Extras 6 wides. Powerplay: 34 runs – promise, then puddles! Fall of wickets: 8-1 (Bhurtel, 2.1), 12-2 (Sheikh, 3.1), 70-3 (Malla, 10.4), 89-4 (Paudel, 12.4). Yet to bat: Sundeep Jora, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Lalit Rajbanshi – but rain said “cut!”
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akeal Hosein | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.70 |
| Jason Holder | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6.00 |
| Ramon Simmonds | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.50 |
| Fabian Allen | 2 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.50 |
| Obed McCoy | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.50 |
| Navin Bidaisee | 1.4 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6.00 |
Key Moments: Ducks, Drama, and Rain’s Prank
Nepal’s innings was a farce – two early ducks! Hosein’s 1/8 spun gold, Holder’s 1/12 (with 6 wides) added comedy. Paudel’s 38 the bright spot, but Malla’s 30 cut short by Holder. Fall of wickets: 8-1 (Bhurtel, 2.1), 12-2 (Sheikh, 3.1), 70-3 (Malla, 10.4), 89-4 (Paudel, 12.4). Rain at 12.4 overs – target revised to 90 off 13 overs for WI (DLS method, assuming). Yet to bat for Nepal: Jora, KC, Kami, Yadav, Rajbanshi – but Mother Nature said “nap time!”
- Star Batter: Rohit Paudel – 38 off 35, SR 108.57, captain cool.
- Key Bowler: Akeal Hosein – 1/8, spin setting traps.
- Comedy Gold: 6 wides from Holder – like freebies at a fair!
WI’s Chase: 90 in 13 Overs? Piece of Cake(walk)
Revised target 90 off 13 overs – WI’s in candy land. Mayers and Auguste can blast it, with Holder’s all-round threat looming. Nepal’s attack – Rajbanshi, Kami – has bite, but after that batting blooper, confidence is low. WI’s 3-1 T20I edge over Nepal says stroll. Prediction? They’ll knock it off in 10 overs, leaving time for selfies.
Series Stakes: Warm-Up Wins and Whispers
This series is Asia Cup prep – WI aiming momentum, Nepal building bench strength. A win gives WI 2 points, Nepal 0. Buzz: Australia’s ODI series win over India, Harbhajan nomination drama, Dickie Bird tributes – but tonight, rain’s the real MVP.
In the end, this match is cricket’s quirky side: blasts, blunders, and bucketloads of laughs. Nepal’s 89/4? A rain-soaked sketch. WI’s turn – triumph or tumble? Watch, chuckle, and recall: Cricket’s best when it’s this bonkers. Your chase call? Yell below!