Nepal succumbed to their biggest ever defeat by runs in the One Day International (ODI) game after West Indies crushed them by 101 runs inflicting the South Asian team second loss of the ICC World Cup Qualifier at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe.

After Nepal invited them to bat first, the two-time ODI world champions posted a mammoth total of 339-7 riding on centuries from captain Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran, who was dropped twice. Chasing their highest ever ODI total, Nepal were bowled out for 238 runs with two balls to spare after they kept losing wickets on regular interval. Middle order batter Aarif Sheikh was the only batter for Nepal to reach the half century mark.

The outcome surpassed Nepal’s previous biggest defeat by runs—99—against United Arab Emirates (UAE) in World Cup League 2 match in 2022 in Dubai. It was also the biggest total scored by any opponents against Nepal beating UAE’s record of 310 runs at TU grounds in League 2 in March.

Nepal had gone down to hosts Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the tournament opener on Sunday before defeating United States (US) by six wickets, Tuesday.

Following the defeat, Nepal dropped one spot below to fourth spot on equal two points as that of the Netherlands in Group ‘A’ due to inferior run rate. But Nepal could still qualify for Super Six stage should they beat Netherlands in their last group game on Saturday and hope that the Dutch side lose to West Indies on Monday. The Netherlands saw off the US by five wickets on Thursday.

West India came level with Zimbabwe on four points but are second in the standings after equal two games. USA, who suffered victories in all three games, are yet to open the scoring.

Nepal made a bright start with the ball and claimed two early wickets removing opener Kyle Mayers (1 run) and Johnson Charles (out for a duck) with nine runs on board. Mayers was caught by Kushal Bhurtel in medium pacer Karan KC’s delivery in the second over. Wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh caught Charles off medium pacer Gulshan Jha in the first ball of the fifth over.

Nepal got yet another prized wicket of opener Brandon King after leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane bowled him out on 32 runs with 55-3 on board in the 16th over. He hit two boundaries and a six in his 42 ball knock.

But captain Hope and Pooran stabilised the innings, sharing a 216-run stand for the fourth wicket. Pooran punished Nepal scoring 115 runs off 94 after he got lifelines on three and 54 runs by wicketkeeper Aarif Sheikh.

He scored his second ODI hundred that included 10 hits to the fences and four maximums. Dipendra Singh Airee broke the partnership after he caught and bowled Pooran in the last delivery of the 44th over.

The 29-year-old Hope slammed his 15th ODI century and struck 132 runs off 129, the highest of the innings, studded with 10 boundaries and three sixes. He was dismissed in the second ball of the last over after Bhim Sharki caught him in a delivery by Lalit Rajbanshi.

Rovman Powell scored 29 runs off 14 while Jason Holder remained unbeaten on 16 runs facing 10 deliveries.

Left arm bowler Rajbanshi claimed three wickets of West Indies in his 10-over spell conceding 52 runs. KC, Jha, Lamichhane and Airee returned with a wicket each. KC, who grabbed four wickets against US in their last game, conceded 81 runs equaling record of highest run conceded in an innings by Sompal Kami against Papua New Guinea in Kirtipur during a bilateral series.

Nepal were off to a troubled start in their chase and kept losing wickets on regular intervals. They were left tottering at 3-48 losing opener Kushal Bhurtel (5 runs), Bhim Sharki (2 runs) and Aasif Sheikh (28 runs).

Middle order batter Aarif was the highest scorer for Nepal with 63 runs off 93. He struck four hits to the boundaries and a six before Pooran caught him in pacer Alzarri Joseph’s delivery in the 46th over.

Gulshan Jha, who came to bat at number eight, contributed 42 runs off 58. Captain Rohit Paudel scored 30 runs, Karan KC 28 runs and Dipendra Singh Airee 23 runs.