KATHMANDU, JULY 13
Nepal defeated Scotland by five wickets in the One Day International Tri-series of the ICC Cricket World Cup League-II at the Titwood Cricket Ground in Glasgow today.
Batting first, Scotland were bowled out for 144 runs in 42.3 overs before Nepal reached 146-5 with 149 balls to spare. The maiden victory over Scotland lifted Nepal to fifth place in the seven-team standing with 17 points, one more than Namibia.
Nepal skipper Sandeep Lamichhane's decision to invite the home side to take the first strike paid off as the bowlers did not allow Scotland batters play freely.
Sompal Kami made an early breakthrough when he had Matthew Cross (two) caught behind by Aasif Sheikh in the last ball of the second over.
Karan KC accounted for Calum MacLeod (13) and Kami dismissed opener Kyle Coetzer (six) to reduce Scotland to 22-3. The home team kept on losing wickets at regular interval and they weer reeling at 95-9 in 30 overs. No 9 batsman Gavin Main fought a lonely battle and he combined with Hamza Tahir (seven) to add 49 runs for the 10th wicket.
Main top scored for Scotland with an unbeaten 64 off 69 balls hitting seven fours and the lone six of the innings. Mark Watt was the next best with 17 runs, while Safyaan Sharif contributed 16. Sompal Kami (3-40) and Mohammad Aadil Alam (3- 31) shared six wickets between them, while skipper Lamichhane grabbed 2-35.
Karan KC and Dipendra Singh Airee pocketed one wicket each.
In reply, Aasif Sheikh scored a half century as Nepal chased down the target without much trouble although they lost five wickets in the process. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Sheikh added 47 runs in seven overs before the former was dismissed for 28-ball 27 that included four boundaries.
Sheikh took the charge and he combined with Dev Khanal (four) to add 30 runs for the second wicket. Nepal lost three more wickets in the space of 14 runs before vice-captain Rohit Poudel finished it off in style hitting a four off Hamza Tahir in the first ball of the 26th over. Sheikh top scored for Nepal with 71 off just 62 balls with the help of 10 boundaries and a six, while Poudel remained unbeaten on 31-ball 34 that included five fours.
Gavin Main took 3-46, while Adrian Neill and Richie Berrington grabbed one wicket each for Scotland, who are at the second position in the standing with 30 points from 22 matches. Oman are at the top on 44 of 36 points, while Photo Courtesy: Cricket Scotland the United Arab Emirates are third on 26, followed by the United States of America (23). Namibia, who defeated Nepal by 40 runs on Monday dropped to sixth on 16 points, whereas Papua New Guinea are at the bottom with two points.
Nepal will face Namibia in Ayr on July 16 before wrapping up the tour with a match against Scotland in Glasgow the following day.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 14, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
