West Indies confirmed their place in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eights with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 15, 2026. From the first over to the last, West Indies were in complete control of the 25th Group C match, ending Nepal’s tournament hopes in the process. Jason Holder was the standout with the ball, claiming 4 for 27 in four overs after going wicketless in two overs in their previous win over England, while Matthew Forde shone with the new ball replacing the rested Romario Shepherd.
Dipendra Singh Airee’s gritty half-century — only the second by a Nepal batter in a T20 World Cup — dragged Nepal to 133 for 8, but it was never close to enough. West Indies captain Shai Hope then found his feet with a fluent 61 not out, while Shimron Hetmyer continued his destructive form, the pair guiding the chase home with 28 balls to spare.
Table of Contents
Match Summary
West Indies won the toss and asked Nepal to bat on a pitch Hope described as damper than they had expected. The decision paid dividends immediately, as Hosein, Forde and Holder dismantled Nepal’s top order in a powerplay that left the hosts reeling at 22 for 3 — the lowest powerplay score by any team in T20 World Cup 2026. Only Airee’s resistance through the middle and lower order, capped by a sixth-over slog to bring up his fifty, gave Nepal something approaching respectability. West Indies’ chase was measured at first but never under pressure, with Hetmyer’s flurry of boundaries and Hope’s acceleration through the 12th over onwards wrapping up proceedings inside 16 overs.
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 133/8 | 20.0 | — |
| West Indies | 134/1 | 15.2 | Won by 9 wickets (28 balls remaining) |
Player of the Match: Jason Holder (4/27) Cricinfo’s MVP: Jason Holder (50.03 pts) Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Date: February 15, 2026 Toss: West Indies won; elected to bowl
First Innings: Nepal’s Batting (133/8 in 20 Overs)
West Indies Dominate the Powerplay
West Indies wasted no time imposing themselves. Akeal Hosein struck in the very first over, beating Kushal Bhurtel’s defence with an arm ball. It was the fourth time Hosein had dismissed Bhurtel across their four T20I innings against each other, and in those exchanges Hosein had conceded just 18 runs off 18 balls.
Matthew Forde, playing as a replacement for Romario Shepherd who was left out as a precaution due to a slight niggle, immediately got the ball swinging and seaming. Nepal’s batters had no answers to the movement on offer. In his second over, Forde trapped Nepal captain Rohit Paudel lbw with an inswinger, then barely allowed Airee to get a touch as he completed a wicket maiden, finishing with figures of 1 for 10.
Jason Holder then struck with the very first ball of his spell, as Aasif Sheikh’s flick off a slot ball went straight to Shimron Hetmyer at deep backward square. Nepal lost two wickets in seven balls without adding a run, leaving them 22 for 3 at the end of the powerplay — the lowest powerplay total posted by any team in T20 World Cup 2026.
Holder then removed the other Sheikh brother, Aarif, who miscued one to midwicket.
Nepal Powerplay Damage
| Over | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bhurtel dismissed by Hosein (arm ball) |
| Forde’s 2nd over | Paudel lbw, wicket maiden; conceded 1 for 10 overall |
| Holder’s 1st ball | Aasif Sheikh — flick to Hetmyer at deep backward sq |
| Shortly after | Aarif Sheikh miscues to midwicket off Holder |
Nepal powerplay total: 22 for 3 — lowest by any team in T20 World Cup 2026
Airee and Kami Rescue Nepal at the Death
Between overs 8 and 15, Nepal went at a run-a-ball and lost two more wickets. Airee held his end together steadily, and he proved to be the only batter capable of mounting a real challenge. Sompal Kami — who came into the XI in place of Lalit Rajbanshi — provided crucial support at the death.
Airee and Kami picked up a boundary each in the 17th over, then Kami struck Holder for three consecutive boundaries through the off side. Airee cut a short and wide delivery from Shamar Joseph for six to bring up his half-century — only the second by a Nepal batter in a T20 World Cup. He closed the over with another six, slogging West Indies’ quick over midwicket to end an 18-run over.
The partnership between Airee and Kami contributed 54 runs off just 26 balls and lifted Nepal to a total with some semblance of respectability.
However, Airee fell to Holder in the final over while attempting to clear the ropes. Holder then closed out the innings by dismissing Karan KC off the final ball, finishing with figures of 4 for 27 — a strong comeback after conceding 34 runs in two wicketless overs against England. Despite a no-ball free hit during the final over, Holder conceded only seven runs in it.
Nepal Batting Performance
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Mode of Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kushal Bhurtel | — | — | Beaten by Hosein arm ball |
| Rohit Paudel (c) | — | — | lbw Forde, inswinger |
| Aasif Sheikh | — | — | Flick to Hetmyer, Holder |
| Aarif Sheikh | — | — | Miscue to midwicket, Holder |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | 58 | — | c&b Holder (final over); only 2nd Nepal fifty in T20 WC |
| Sompal Kami | — | — | 54-run stand with Airee off 26 balls; 3 consecutive boundaries off Holder |
| Karan KC | — | — | Final ball, Holder |
West Indies Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Runs | Wickets | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Holder | 27 | 4 | First ball wicket (Aasif Sheikh); dismissed Aarif Sheikh, Airee, Karan KC; 7 runs conceded in final over despite free hit |
| Matthew Forde | 10 | 1 | Wicket maiden; swung and seamed; Paudel lbw inswinger; played for Shepherd (niggle) |
| Akeal Hosein | — | 1 | Bhurtel (4th dismissal in 4 T20I innings vs Bhurtel; 18 runs off 18 balls in that matchup) |
| Shamar Joseph | — | 0 | Airee cut for six to bring up fifty |
Second Innings: West Indies’ Chase (134/1 in 15.2 Overs)
West Indies Start Steady
Brandon King punched his first ball through covers off the back foot for four, but West Indies were not in any rush. They picked up a boundary in each of the first three overs before King struck Sompal Kami for back-to-back fours. West Indies finished the powerplay at 44 for 1 after Nandan Yadav had King caught at mid-on — a flash of hope for Nepal amid an otherwise comfortable chase.
Hetmyer Takes Over, Hope Finishes Off
Hetmyer immediately ensured West Indies did not slow down. He struck two boundaries off Sandeep Lamichhane, the second coming off the outside edge right after Nepal removed their lone slip fielder. He then steered Airee through third for another boundary before launching Lamichhane for the first six of the innings, racing to 26 off 16 balls.
In the 12th over, Hetmyer whipped Yadav over midwicket and then pulled him behind square for four. As the target drew closer, Hope raised his tempo and reclaimed the lead in what had become a little run race between the two. A misfield at long-on gifted him a boundary off Bhurtel; the very next ball he swung over backward square for six.
Hope then struck two sixes off Lamichhane — the first bringing up his fifty, the second levelling the scores in the 15th over. West Indies needed just two more balls to seal the win and the two points. It was a return to form for Hope, who had managed only 19 runs across the first two games of the tournament.
West Indies Batting Performance
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | — | — | Punched first ball through covers for four; fell Nandan Yadav, caught mid-on |
| Shai Hope (c) | 61* | — | Half-century vs Lamichhane; only 19 runs in first two games; two sixes in 15th over |
| Shimron Hetmyer | 46* | — | 26 off 16 early; six off Lamichhane; two fours off Yadav in 12th over |
West Indies Chase Progression
| Stage | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplay | 44/1 | King fell to Nandan Yadav catch at mid-on |
| Middle (overs 7–11) | — | Hetmyer boundaries off Lamichhane, Airee; 26 off 16 |
| Over 12 | — | Hetmyer: whip over midwicket + pull behind sq off Yadav |
| Over 15 | Scores level | Hope: two sixes off Lamichhane including fifty-bringing shot |
| Over 15.2 | 134/1 | West Indies win by 9 wickets (28 balls remaining) |
Match-Winning Performances
Jason Holder — Player of the Match and Cricinfo’s MVP
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Figures | 4/27 in 4 overs |
| Wickets | Aasif Sheikh (first ball), Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Karan KC |
| Final over | 7 runs conceded despite free hit; closed out innings |
| Context | Comeback after 0 wickets, 34 runs conceded in two overs vs England |
| MVP Points | 50.03 |
Matthew Forde
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Figures | 1/10 including wicket maiden |
| Replacement | Played in place of Romario Shepherd (slight niggle, precautionary rest) |
| Mode of dismissal | Paudel lbw, inswinger |
| Control | Swing and seam; Nepal batters unable to lay bat on ball |
Shai Hope
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Score | 61* |
| Fifty | Off Lamichhane; two sixes in 15th over levelled scores |
| Context | Only 19 runs across first two tournament matches |
| Role | Captain leading chase from front; sealed win in 15th over |
Shimron Hetmyer
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Score | 46* |
| Strike rate | Raced to 26 off 16 balls early |
| First six | Off Lamichhane (first six of the chase) |
| 12th over | Whip over midwicket + pull behind square off Yadav |
T20 World Cup 2026 Group C Implications
| Team | Status |
|---|---|
| West Indies | Confirmed Super Eights after third group-stage win |
| Nepal | Eliminated from T20 World Cup 2026 |
West Indies’ nine-wicket win — secured with 28 balls to spare — confirmed their Super Eights spot and extended their dominance in the group stage with a third victory. Nepal, despite the individual brilliance of Airee, were knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2026, their campaign undone by a catastrophic powerplay collapse and insufficient firepower in the middle order to post a challenging total. The result also sealed Nepal’s exit for the tournament.
Read More: T20 World Cup 2026: Krishnamurthi Keep USA’s Super Eights Hopes Alive with Win Over Namibia
FAQs
What was the result of Nepal vs West Indies at T20 World Cup 2026?
West Indies won by nine wickets with 28 balls remaining — Nepal were bowled out for 133 for 8, and West Indies reached 134 for 1 in 15.2 overs.
Who won Player of the Match in the Nepal vs West Indies T20 World Cup 2026 match?
Jason Holder won the Player of the Match award for his bowling figures of 4 for 27, including a wicket off his very first ball.
What was Dipendra Singh Airee’s significance in this match?
Airee’s 58 was only the second half-century by a Nepal batter in T20 World Cup history. He also added 54 runs off 26 balls with Sompal Kami to help Nepal reach 133 for 8.
What was Nepal’s powerplay score, and why was it significant?
Nepal scored just 22 for 3 in the powerplay — the lowest powerplay total by any team in T20 World Cup 2026.
What does this result mean for West Indies in T20 World Cup 2026?
West Indies confirmed their Super Eights spot with this victory, their third win of the group stage. Nepal were eliminated from the tournament.
