Nepal finally broke the shackles of their winless streak in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 as they defeated Scotland by five wickets in the United States Triangular Series at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Wednesday.
Chasing a low total of 155, the Rhinos completed a comprehensive win in 29.5 overs riding on an unbeaten half-century from Aarif Sheikh.
Nepal owed their victory primarily to their bowlers who shone brightest to restrict Scotland to 154 all out, with Sandeep Lamichhane taking three wickets and Karan KC, Sompal Kami and Jha picking two scalps each.
It was Nepal’s first victory in League 2 in eight months since a nine-wicket thrashing of the Netherlands during the inaugural and home tri-series (involving Nepal, the Netherlands and Namibia) in February in Kathmandu.
They had been winless in their previous eight League 2 matches, including a no result– their match was washed out due to rain – against Oman during the Canada Tri-Series last month.
Nepal had lost their opening match of the US Tri-Series against the hosts by three wickets on Sunday.
The League 2 loss against the US– suffered despite half-centuries from Rohit Paudel (96), Anil Sah (56) and Aasif Sheikh (52) and a four-wicket haul from Kushal Bhurtel– had come following their T20I Series whitewash against the same side and it was widely speculated that Nepal were finally finding their charm back after months of turmoil.
And Rohit Paudel’s team proved everyone right.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Nepal bowlers choked Scotland from the start.
Karan KC struck first removing Charlie Tear for a duck with his fifth delivery of the first over.
The Scots lost their wickets at regular intervals and were struggling at 88-6 midway into the innings, with in-firm Kami, Lamichhane, Aarif and Gulsan Jha all getting their shares and preventing their opponents from building any significant partnership.
Mark Watt provided his team some relief with a 40-ball 34 but, with no support from the other side of the wicket, Scotland could only post 157-5.
Skipper Richie Berrington and Michael Jones scored 19 runs each, providing second highest scores for Scotland.
In reply, Nepal struggled initially after Anil Sah (13), Aasif Sheikh (21) and Rohit Paudel (1) all failed to continue their impressive form from their previous outings and looked in trouble at 63-4 after 16 overs.
Kushal Bhurtel and Aarif, who is generally introduced for 50-over matches, slowly rebuilt the innings adding 37 runs for the fifth wicket before Jack Jarvis broke their stand trapping the former leg in front.
But Jha and Aarif put on an unbeaten 57 runs stand for the sixth wicket to ensure Nepal register their second victory of the League 2.
Jha made 25 runs facing 30 deliveries, while Aarif, who completed the victory with a four off Brandon McMullen cracked 51 from 42 balls. Player of the match Aarif, who also made two catches to remove Berrington and Brad Wheal, smashed eight boundaries.
McMullen took wickets for Canada, while Brad Currie, Mark Watt and Jarvis pocketed one each.
Nepal next play hosts US on November 2 and Scotland on November 4 in the second leg fixtures of the US Tri-Series.
