West Indies vs Nepal, Match 25 Match Summary

A clash between certainty and survival - 'In T20 cricket, yesterday's hero can become today's heartbreak, and tomorrow's miracle is never far away.' That line could not fit this Group C clash any better as West Indies and Nepal walk into a high-stakes showdown at the Wankhede Stadium, with their World Cup paths heading in completely opposite directions. West Indies sit proudly on top of the group after statement wins over Scotland and England, knowing that one more victory will seal their place in the Super 8s, while Nepal are staring at the edge of elimination, aware that another defeat will bring a promising campaign to a cruel end. Caribbean firepower in full flow - West Indies have looked every bit the powerhouse side they promised to be, blending raw muscle with tactical balance. Shimron Hetmyer has brought his trademark swagger, while Sherfane Rutherford's stunning 74* off 42 against England, the highest T20I score of his career, showed how quickly he can take a game away. With Rovman Powell and Jason Holder still to fully unleash their hitting, the batting has enviable depth, even if the opening pair of Brandon King and Shai Hope is yet to truly click, prompting talk of whether Johnson Charles could be thrown into the mix. The inclusion of Roston Chase has already paid off, adding calm in the middle and vital balance, and alongside Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein he formed a spin trio that strangled England with combined figures of 6 for 94. In a morning game at Wankhede, that spin threat could again be decisive, especially with the pace of Shamar Joseph, the all-round impact of Holder and Romario Shepherd, already a hat-trick and five-for holder in this tournament, waiting to pounce. Everything on the line for Nepal - Nepal's journey has been a rollercoaster, pushing England to the brink before being brutally brought back to earth by Italy in a 10-wicket defeat that hammered their net run rate and left them in a do-or-die situation. Lokesh Bam's near-heroics against England now feel painfully distant, even as Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee have continued to provide stability and all-round value respectively. For Nepal to dream again, they will need more from Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh at the top, and the late-order punch of Gulshan Jha and Karan KC. With the ball, much will rest on Sandeep Lamichhane's guile, their leading wicket-taker in this format, supported by Nandan Yadav's impressive pace and possibly extra spin from Sher Malla or Lalit Rajbanshi. Team Form (Last 5 T20Is, latest result first) - West Indies - WWWLL | Nepal - LLWWW. What to expect? Adding intrigue is the fact that Nepal defeated a second-string West Indies 2-1 in a T20I series earlier this year, a memory that will fuel belief, but on this stage, with qualification on the line, both teams know there is no room left for yesterday's stories, only the drama of what unfolds next.