MUMBAI: In a moment that will be written in the annals of Nepalese cricket forever, the Himalayan nation registered their maiden victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a sensational seven-wicket triumph over Scotland at Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a daunting target of 171, Nepal reached home with four balls to spare, sending the sizeable Nepalese contingent at the ground into wild celebrations.
The victory marks a watershed moment for cricket in the mountainous nation, who had previously struggled to make their mark on the global stage.
Airee the architect of history
Nepal’s historic chase stood Dipendra Singh Airee, whose unbeaten 50 off just 23 balls will forever be remembered as the innings that announced Nepal’s arrival in world cricket.
The 24-year-old’s breathtaking knock, laced with four boundaries and three towering sixes, equalled the tournament’s fastest fifty and turned a tricky chase into a cakewalk.
Jones’ heroics overshadowed
Scotland opener Michael Jones produced a career-best knock of 71 off 45 deliveries, anchoring the Scottish innings with eight boundaries and three maximums.
Jones shared an 80-run opening stand with George Munsey (27), laying a solid foundation.
Brandon McMullen contributed a brisk 25, but Scotland’s innings lost momentum in the death overs, managing just 48 runs in the final five while losing five wickets.
Sompal Kami emerged as Nepal’s bowling hero, claiming three crucial scalps for 25 runs, while Nandan Yadav chipped in with two wickets.
Chase that made history
What followed under the Mumbai lights was a masterclass in measured aggression.
Openers Kushal Bhurtel (43 off 35) and Aasif Sheikh (33 off 27) laid a solid foundation with a 66-run stand, ensuring the required rate never spiralled out of control.
When both openers departed, and captain Rohit Paudel followed for 16, Nepal found themselves at 110 for three in the 13th over, still requiring 61 runs from 42 deliveries.
It was then that Airee walked in, and history began to unfold.
Record-breaking partnership
Airee found an able partner in Gulsan Jha, and together they scripted a remarkable heist.
The pair added an unbroken 61 runs off just 37 deliveries, with Airee reaching his fifty in breathtaking fashion, a six over long-on bringing up the milestone and sparking celebrations in the stands.
Jha provided the perfect foil, remaining unbeaten on 24 off just 17 balls, as Nepal romped home with four deliveries to spare.
Both Nepal and Scotland are out of the contest for super eight.
England and West Indies have become the first teams to secure their Super Eight berths from Group C, showcasing contrasting yet equally effective paths to qualification.
The two-time champions West Indies completed a flawless group campaign with three commanding victories, with a fixture to be played against Italy.
England, despite playing an extra match, matched the Caribbean side’s six points through three wins, demonstrating remarkable resilience by bouncing back from their solitary defeat to West Indies.
