In a thrilling match of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2023, West Indies showcased their dominance as Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran smashed centuries to help their team secure a resounding 101-run victory over Nepal. With two consecutive victories, West Indies reached the top of Group A and strengthens their position in the tournament.
Batting first, West Indies faced early setbacks with the dismissals of Kyle Mayers and Johnson Charles. However, Hope and Pooran came to the rescue with an outstanding 216-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Hope played a brilliant knock of 132 runs, while Pooran displayed aggressive batting with his quickfire 115. Their partnership powered West Indies to a formidable total of 339, the highest score of the tournament.
In response, Nepal struggled to chase down the target. Despite some sloppy fielding by West Indies, Nepal's batting line-up failed to build momentum. Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, and Akeal Hosein took crucial wickets, ultimately bowling Nepal out for 238.
Nepal's decision to field first after winning the toss seemed promising initially, as their bowlers made early breakthroughs. However, the dropped catch of Pooran proved to be a turning point in the match. Pooran capitalized on the opportunity and launched an aggressive attack on the Nepalese bowlers, hitting sixes off Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane. Hope, too, joined the onslaught, and both batsmen reached their half-centuries. Eventually, they both achieved their centuries in the 40th over, setting up a commanding total for West Indies.
In the latter part of their innings, West Indies accelerated the scoring rate, adding 98 runs in the final ten overs. Contributions from Rovman Powell and Holder further boosted the team's total, setting Nepal a challenging target of 340 runs.
Nepal struggled to keep up with the required run rate, losing early wickets to the West Indian bowlers. Despite the fielding lapses from the West Indies, Nepal failed to capitalize on the chances. Keacy Carty took a stunning catch on the boundary, while Roston Chase displayed sharp fielding skills to dismiss key batsmen. Nepal's innings continued to falter, but Aarif Sheikh's spirited half-century helped them reach a respectable total.
Ultimately, West Indies secured a convincing victory, leaving Nepal on the brink of a massive defeat. The win not only helped West Indies register their second win in the tournament but also pushed them to the top position in the Group A Table.
The ICC World Cup Qualifiers continue to unfold, promising more thrilling encounters as teams vie for a spot in the upcoming World Cup.