scotland vs nepal — Airee fires Nepal to thrilling chase of 170
Nepal completed a pulsating victory over Scotland at the Wankhede Stadium, chasing down a challenging 170 with four balls to spare as Dipendra Singh Airee produced a match-defining cameo. Scotland had looked poised after Michael Jones' fluent 71, but a dramatic collapse handed momentum back to Nepal and their hitters took full advantage on a batter-friendly surface.
Airee's explosive cameo seals the chase
Asked to chase 171, Nepal reached 171 for 3 in 19. 2 overs, with Airee unbeaten on 50 off just 23 deliveries. His blitz mixed clever placement with brutal hitting, and he finished the job with calmness rarely seen in such a high-pressure chase. Airee's quickfire fifty was the backbone of Nepal's innings; he accelerated the run-rate at the perfect moment and left the target within sight for the rest of the side.
Support from the other end allowed Airee to take control. The partnership approach — combining risk-taking with judicious use of the boundary — proved decisive as Scotland's bowlers struggled to find consistent lines in the middle overs. The victory marks Nepal's first win on this stage since 2014 and will be taken as a significant morale boost after their narrow defeat to England earlier in the tournament.
Scotland's top-order promise undone by middle-order collapse
Scotland had posted a competitive 170 for 7 after being put into bat. Michael Jones led the charge with a commanding 71 from 45 balls, finding gaps off the back foot and driving powerfully through the off-side. The start suggested an above-par total was on the cards, with the visitors reaching 132 for 1 at one stage.
But momentum swung rapidly. Sompal Kami triggered the collapse with a double strike, removing Jones and Brandon McMullen in the same over. From 132 for 1 Scotland slumped to 162 for 7 as wickets fell in quick succession. George Munsey, usually a reliable source of impetus, managed 27 from 29 and could not resurrect the innings. Craig Leask provided late resistance with three wickets for Nepal, but the damage had been done earlier when the scoreboard went quiet.
Nepal's bowlers used pace-off variations to good effect in the death overs, with Sompal's three-wicket haul (3-25) particularly valuable in choking Scotland's scoring options late. The collapse underlined vulnerability in Scotland's middle order, which will be a talking point after the match.
Implications and the bigger picture
Neither Scotland nor Nepal were in contention to progress to the Super 8 stage, with both teams eliminated from Group C before this fixture. Still, Nepal's win is significant on several counts: it breaks a long wait for a World Cup victory, restores confidence after a narrow opening loss, and highlights the depth of batting talent capable of rapid acceleration.
For Scotland, the result rounds off a mixed campaign. They arrived at the tournament as late additions and managed one victory across their group games, but the defeat will prompt scrutiny of their middle-order strategies and finishing plans in future white-ball fixtures.
The Wankhede encounter provided plenty of entertainment: a fluent 71 from Jones, a late collapse, and Airee's match-winning fireworks. For neutral fans it was a reminder that in Twenty20 cricket, momentum can flip in a single over and that fearless batting often decides the outcome.
