New Delhi: Nepal made the lowest score in the powerplay overs of the 2026 T20 World Cup as they lost by nine wickets to West Indies, who became the first team to enter the super eight stage with a hat-trick of victories, in Mumbai on Sunday.
West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl and reduced Nepal to 22 for three during the powerplay, the lowest score in the mandatory first six overs of matches in the tournament so far.
Dipendra Singh Airee’s half century lifted Nepal to 133 for 8, which was reached by the two champions with 28 balls to spare at the Wankhede Stadium.
They lost opener Kushel Bhurtel (1) in the first over as Akeal Hosein’s fifth delivery hit the seam and cut back into the right handed batter to breach his defence.
Matthew Forde then bowled a rare maiden wicket in T20s, trapping No.3 Rohit Paudel (5) in front of the stumps off the first ball of his over and keeping new batter Deepak Singh Airee quiet for the next five deliveries.
It was the fourth maiden over in the powerplay of the ongoing tournament as Nepal laboured to 17 for two in four overs and in the first ball of the fifth over the other opener Aasif Sheikh (11) hit Jason Holder straight to Shimron Hetmyer at fine leg.
Forde bowled another quiet over Nepal huffed and puffed to 22 for three, failing to build any momentum in their innings.
Player of the match medium pacer Jason Holder (4/74) led West Indies’ bowling attack as four others claimed a wicket apiece.
It was Airee’s 58-run knock, along with Sompal Kami’s unbeaten 26 that ensured that they crossed 130, which looked distant at one point of time.
Apat from Airee’s three sixes and three fours in a 47-ball knock, there ws not much to speak about Nepal’s batters on a routine track where run-making shouldn’t have been that hard.
Their struggle was further amplified when West Indies batters began their chase as skipper Shai Hope (61 not out off 44, 5×4, 3×6) and Shimron Hetmyer (46 not out, 32 balls, 4×4, 2×6) made merry.