Nepal beats Scotland by 6 wickets to strengthen League 2 push

Nepal secured a significant six-wicket victory over Scotland in a crucial ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Monday. The win lifts Nepal to fifth place in the standings with 22 points from 27 matches, strengthening their position in the race for a top-four finish and direct qualification for the next stage of the World Cup pathway.

After winning the toss, Scotland chose to bat first but were bowled out for 194 in 39.1 overs. Spinners Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane led a disciplined Nepali bowling attack, with Rajbanshi taking four wickets for 32 runs and Lamichhane claiming three for 47. Scotland’s innings was anchored by a rapid 73 from 44 balls by Brandon McMullen and a steady 51 from Michael English, but frequent wickets prevented them from building substantial partnerships.

In reply, Nepal chased down the target of 195 in 38.1 overs, losing four wickets. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh provided an aggressive start with a 58-run partnership. After a brief stumble, a decisive 104-run stand between Ishan Pandey and captain Rohit Paudel steadied the chase. Pandey scored 55, while...