scotland vs nepal: Airee's late surge hands Nepal dramatic T20 World Cup win
Nepal produced a late flourish to chase down 171 and defeat Scotland by seven wickets in a high-tempo Group C clash at the Wankhede Stadium. Dipendra Singh Airee finished unbeaten on 50 off 23 balls as Nepal reached their target with four balls to spare, handing them their first win on the T20 World Cup stage since 2014.
Scotland set a competitive total but collapse late
Put into bat, Scotland looked on course for a strong finish when Michael Jones raced to 71 from 45 deliveries, forging a powerful platform at the top of the order. George Munsey, however, never found his touch and managed 27 from 29. Scotland were 132-1 at one stage, but a dramatic middle and late-order collapse saw them lose six wickets for 30 runs to finish 170-7 in their 20 overs.
Key breakthroughs came at a crucial stage when Sompal Kami struck, removing Jones and Brandon McMullen in the same over and stalling Scotland's momentum. The tail offered some resistance but could not rebuild the innings after that double strike. Scotland's total, built largely around Jones' fluency, left enough for an on-song Nepal side to chase on a good batting surface.
Airee's rapid fifty and a calm finish from Nepal
Nepal's chase was short and sharp. Dipendra Singh Airee produced a blistering cameo, reaching an unbeaten 50 off only 23 balls and steering his side home with authority. The win was built on smart striking and composed running between the wickets. Airee's acceleration proved decisive, but the chase was also supported by disciplined bowling earlier in Scotland's innings—Sompal finished with figures of 3-25 while Matt Leask claimed 3-30 for Scotland.
The visitors executed their plans well on a pitch that rewarded positive intent. Nepal moved through the target briskly and wrapped up the victory with 19. 2 overs on the board, celebrating a morale-boosting success after a narrow last-ball defeat in their tournament opener. The result offered a measure of redemption and injected momentum as the side prepares for future fixtures and development on the global stage.
Context and consequences
Neither Scotland nor Nepal were in contention to advance to the Super 8 stage from Group C, with both teams already eliminated from progression. Scotland, who entered the tournament as late call-ups, finish the group with a single win from four matches. For Nepal, the victory is significant beyond the standings—it's a reminder of their potential at major events and a confidence-building moment that could bolster their preparations for upcoming competitions.
The match highlighted the fine margins in T20 cricket: a strong top-order display can be undermined by a sudden collapse, and a compact, aggressive chase can overturn what looked like a defendable total. For Nepal, Airee's finishing power will be a headline takeaway; for Scotland, the task will be to reflect on the collapse from 132-1 and address late-innings execution.
Both teams now head into the remainder of the international window with clear targets: Nepal to build on this breakthrough and Scotland to regroup and refine their plans after a mixed tournament showing. The Wankhede crowd witnessed an entertaining contest that vindicated positive cricket and the unpredictable excitement of the T20 format.
