T20 World Cup Nepal seal historic win over Scotland

Dipendra Singh Airee scored a fifty to lift Nepal

Dipendra Singh Airee scored a monumental half-century to guide Nepal past the finish line in Mumbai, sealing their first win at the T20 World Cup since 2014.

For Scotland, Michael Leask broke the opening partnership between Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh to bring Scotland back into the game. The opening duo had added 74 runs off 9.1 overs before Leask managed to induce a miscued shot off Bhurtel (43).

Leask then nabbed another wicket in his opening burst, getting the better of Aasif Sheikh with 94 runs on the board.

Earlier, after restricted Scotland for 170/7, Nepal had begun their chase at the Wankhede Stadium, finding early boundaries in the powerplay. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh had amassed 56 runs in the first six overs to ease their side into the chase.

Both teams are looking to end their campaign on a winning note, having been pushed out of Super Eight contention.

Put into bat, Scotland started strong, racing to 52/0 in powerplay. But medium-pacer Sompal Kami engineered a Nepal recovery in the last five overs.

Though they lost captain George Munsey for 27, Scotland kept up the scoring rate, piling 131/1 in 15 overs. Michael Jones kept Scotland on the offensive for most part with a standout innings of 71 off 45 balls, with the help of eight fours and three sixes.

Just when Scotland looked like they were going up a gear, the experienced Kami pegged them back with two wickets in the 16th over. After castling Jones, Kami plucked an superb return catch to pack off Brandon McMullen (25). Momentum was now with Nepal, and their bowlers, buoyed by the support at the Wankhede, pulled the rug from under Scotland in the slog overs. In the last five overs, Scotland scored 39 runs and lost six wickets. Kami finished with 3/25 in his four overs.

(Agencies)

Scotland: 170 for 7 in 20 overs

(G. Munsey 27, M. Jones 71, B. McMullen 25, S. Kami 3-25, N. Yadav 2-34, R. Paudel 1-12, K. Bhurtel 1-37)

Nepal: 171 for 3 in 19.2 overs

(K. Bhurtel 43, A. Sheikh 33, D. Airee 50*

G. Jha 24*, M. Leask 3-30)