West Indies captain Akeal Hosein has urged his players to regroup and show character in the final T20I against Nepal today after his team capitulated to a humiliating 90-run defeat yesterday, handing the minnows a historic series win at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Nepal, led by a superb 68 not out from opener Aasif Sheikh and a blistering 63 from Sundeep Jora, piled up 173 for six from their allotted 20 overs before dismissing the West Indies for just 83 in 17.1 overs.
After the loss, Hosein said the focus must now shift to salvaging pride and avoiding a series whitewash. “It’s always better to leave these territories 2-1 than 3-0,” Hosein said. “We definitely have to regroup and come back and win that last game (today).”
The skipper said his team must learn quickly from the defeat and show greater intensity and discipline across all areas.
“When you’re chasing 174-175 for victory, you have to rely on your batters to come good in the powerplay,” he said. “To come out of the powerplay 16 for two, you’re setting yourself back behind the eight ball. From there, we were always playing catch-up.”
Hosein admitted that the loss was especially tough for the senior players but called it a valuable lesson for the entire squad. “It definitely hurts a bit more for the senior guys who’ve played at this level and have tasted success,” he said, adding, “But it’s also a wake-up call. International cricket is no joke–you have to work hard to stay here and perform.”
The left-arm spinner credited Nepal for their all-round performance and their familiarity with the conditions.
“They’ve played together for four or five years and know these conditions inside out,” he noted. “They set the platform, batted well through the middle, and had a good finish. Credit to them for the way they executed.”
Hosein also emphasised the need for sharper fielding, describing it as a crucial factor in turning close contests.
“Catches win matches,” he stressed. “On these pitches, if you have your fielders supporting you, diving around and saving runs, that’s a huge plus. It’s something we have to take pride in as a team.”
Hosein was among the few bright spots with the ball, taking two for 21, while Kyle Mayers also picked up two wickets but was expensive. The batting, however, faltered badly, with Jason Holder (21) the only player to pass 20.
When Nepal batted first, they were in early trouble at 14 for two, with captain Rohit Paudel and fellow opener Kushal Bhurtel falling cheaply to Hosein. But Sheikh and Jora steadied the innings, adding 100 runs for the fourth wicket to lift their team to a challenging total.
In reply, the West Indies’ top order disintegrated against Nepal’s disciplined bowling.
Dipendra Singh Airee (1-4 off three overs) and Karan KC (1-3 off two overs) applied early pressure before Mohammad Aadil Alam (4-24) and Kushal Bhurtel (3-16) finished the job clinically.
With the victory, Nepal made history by clinching their first-ever bilateral T20I series win over a Full Member nation. Aasif Sheikh was named Player of the Match for his composed innings that set up the triumph.
The two sides meet again today at the same venue from 10.30 a.m. (T&T time) in the final game of the three-match series.
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