The Nepalese national cricket team has bagged a sensational win against the champions of CWC League 2, Scotland. Chasing a target of 275 runs, the home side clinched a victory in the 47th over, losing seven wickets.
Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee were the stars in the chase, full of twist and turn. After adding 31 runs from the first two overs, Nepal were down to 39/3 in the fourth over. Soon it became 77/5 after Rohit Paudel and Sundeep Jora’s departure.
Kushal Malla then counter-attacked and added 100 runs for the sixth wicket with Dipendra Singh Airee. Malla completing his second ODI fifty, made 81 from 67 with nine fours and four sixes. It was all down to Airee, who held his nerves and guided his side towards victory. Airee remained unbeaten for 85 runs scoring eight fours and one six. Sompal Kami scoring the winning run in both sensational chases, assisted a vital 24* for the team. This is Nepal’s second-highest chase in ODI, only behind 286 chased against Namibia on 14th February.
Chris Sole and Mark Watt grabbed three wickets each for Scotland. The first inning’s centurion Michael Leask also picked up one.
Earlier in the first Inning, Scotland piled up 274/9 despite a disastrous start. Michael Leask’s maiden ODI ton helped Scotland post a big total despite being 111/6 in the 25th over.
Invited to bat first, Scotland lost their first wicket for 34 in the form of skipper Berrington (19). Swiftly they were down to 63/4 after the jolt from the Nepalese spinners. Chris Greaves (16) and Brandon McMullen (22) added 49 runs for the fifth wicket; however, both walked back in over span as the Scottish side were down to 111/6 in the 25th over.
Michael Leask then rescued the visitors with a maiden ODI hundred. Leask added 81 runs with Jack Jarvis (26) for the seventh wicket. And again piled up 76 runs for the eighth wicket with Mark Watt (20). Leask remained unbeaten for 107 from 85 balls smacking three fours and nine biggies. Scotland added 81 runs from the last ten overs.
Sandeep Lamichhane was the pick of a bowler for Nepal, grabbing three wickets (10-0-27-3). Kushal Malla grabbed a couple of wickets, while Dipendra Singh Airee and Kushal Bhurtel pocketed one each.
