Nepal run into dominant West Indies in search for first points

West Indies and Nepal meet in Group C with their campaigns moving in very different directions. Two convincing wins have put West Indies comfortably on top of the table and within touching distance of a Super 8s berth. Nepal, meanwhile, are still searching for their first points after a narrow loss to England followed by a heavy defeat to Italy, making this game crucial for their survival.

West Indies have looked well-rounded. They defended 182 against Scotland with control and followed it up with a strong all-round display against England, underlining their batting depth and the effectiveness of their spin through the middle overs. Different players have stepped up at different stages, giving them a balanced edge.

Nepal's campaign has been uneven. They pushed England close in their opener, falling short by just four runs, but were then handed a 10-wicket defeat by Italy. Their batting has shown flashes of enterprise, but partnerships have not lasted, while the bowling has struggled to sustain pressure. Against a confident West Indies side, Nepal will need a far more complete performance to stay in contention.

When: Sunday, February 15 at 11:00 AM Local Time

Where: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

What to expect: Four matches have been played at the Wankhede in this World Cup, yet a 200-plus total has remained elusive, contrary to the venue's high-scoring reputation. West Indies' 196 is the highest total here. Spinners have found some assistance, and with this being the first 11 AM start at this ground, pacers could also come into play early.

West Indies: Roston Chase replaced Matthew Forde against England as a tactical change, scoring 34 and taking 2 for 29. He is likely to retain his place.

Probable XI: Brandon King, Shai Hope (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph

Nepal: Lalit Rajbanshi bowled only one over for 19 runs last match. The experienced Sompal Kami, who hasn't played yet, might be considered for this crucial encounter.

Probable XI: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane

Shai Hope, West Indies captain: "It's a World Cup. Any team can beat any other one on a day. We've got to ensure we're still executing. We understand the importance of every single game. We must plan and execute the same way against Nepal."

Rohit Paudel, Nepal captain, after the defeat to Italy: "I thought as a team we are growing. To see the England highs and then not turning up today was disappointing. A team growing like us needs to be more consistent."