Nepal defeats Scotland by two wickets, completes series clean sweep

KATHMANDU: Nepal secured a two-wicket victory over Scotland in the final match of the ICC World Cricket League-2 tri-series at TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Captain Rohit Poudel and fast bowler Karan KC’s 75-run partnership for the ninth wicket led the team to its second win against Scotland in the tri-series after the Nepali batting line-up collapsed during the chase. Nepal also defeated Namibia twice in the tri-series, marking its first clean sweep in any series of WCL-2.

These four victories give Nepal a total of 26 points from 28 games, placing them sixth in the seven-nation league. Meanwhile, Namibia remains in third position with 37 points from 34 games. Scotland, who won two out of four matches in the tri-series, has been crowned WCL-2 champion with 50 points from 36 matches.

Nepal won the toss and chose to invite Scotland to bat first, restricting them to 212 runs in 46.1 overs. Although Scotland started strongly, adding 42 for the first wicket in eight overs, it began losing wickets at regular intervals and found itself at 118 losing five wickets in the 22nd over. Brandon McMullen and Matthew Cross managed to add some respectability to Scotland’s total. Opener George Munsey scored 60 runs off 50 balls, while Cross scored 42 runs before being run out by Dipendra Singh Airee. Brandon McMullen scored 31 runs, but Michael Leask, who scored a century against Nepal in the first match, was out for a duck.

Rohit remained not out at 95 runs from 101 balls, while KC scored 31 runs off 37 balls.

Nepal made a weak start, losing Kushal Bhurtel for just one run in the second over. They lost wickets at regular intervals and were in a precarious position of 8-138 in the 32nd over. However, Captain Poudel and Karan KC took Nepal home with 35 balls to spare. Rohit remained not out at 95 runs from 101 balls, while KC scored 31 runs off 37 balls.

Nepal now has eight matches remaining in the tri-series. The team will travel to Dubai later this week for a tri-series against UAE and Papua New Guinea, before hosting UAE and Papua New Guinea in the tri-series in the second week of March.

Nepal’s remaining matches  in WCL-2
Against PSG – Feb 27
Against UAE – March 2
Against PNG – March 3
Against UAE – March 6
Against PNG – March 9
Against UAE – March 12
Against PSG – March 13
Against UAE – March 16