Kathmandu: Opener Aasif Sheikh and middle-order batter Sundeep Jora struck commanding half-centuries as Nepal set a 174-run target for the West Indies in the second match of the three-game Twenty20 International Series at Sharjah, UAE, on Monday.

Opting to bat first, Nepal came under early pressure at 43-3 before Aasif and Sundeep steadied the innings with a brilliant 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Their stand transformed Nepal’s shaky start into a competitive total of 173-6.

Aasif played a composed unbeaten knock of 68 off 47 balls, decorated with eight boundaries and two sixes. At the other end, Sundeep unleashed a fiery 63 off 39 deliveries, hammering three fours and five sixes before falling to Jediah Blades, caught by Navin Bidaisee.

Nepal had entered the contest aiming for a decisive 2-0 lead in the series, having already secured a historic 19-run victory in Saturday’s opening clash. They scored 148-8 and restricting the Caribbean side to 129-9.

Earlier, Nepal endured a shaky start, losing opener Kushal Bhurtel (2) and skipper Rohit Paudel (3) cheaply with only 14 runs on the board. Kushal Malla (7) followed soon after, leaving Nepal in trouble before Aasif and Sundeep revived the innings with their commanding stand.

In the final overs, Aadil Alam chipped in with a quickfire 11 off five balls, while Gulshan Jha contributed a run-a-ball six to push Nepal past 170.