Nepal achieved a significant milestone in their Cricket history by winning their first T20 World Cup match against Scotland at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 17. Scotland scored 170 for 7, but Nepal chased it down with a strong team effort.
Scotland started their innings steadily, with the openers establishing a good foundation until George Munsey was dismissed at 80. Michael Jones contributed significantly, scoring 71 runs off 45 balls with a strike rate of 157, leading the scoring for his team.
However, as Nepal’s bowlers applied pressure in the middle overs, Scotland struggled to maintain the momentum. Brandon McMullen added a quick 25 runs, but regular wickets hindered their late push. Sompal Kami and Nandan Yadav stood out, taking five wickets together and keeping the score manageable for Nepal.
In their reply, Nepal’s openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh built a solid start, navigating the powerplay well and setting up a good platform. The middle order took control, rotating the strike and hitting boundaries effectively. The match was finished expertly by Dipendra Singh Airee and Gulshan Jha, marking a historic victory for Nepal.
Top batting performance: Dipendra Singh Airee
Dipendra Singh Airee was the top performer, scoring a dynamic 50 runs off just 23 balls, striking at 217. His innings included three sixes and four fours, ensuring a smooth chase for Nepal.
Top bowling performance: Sompal Kami
Sompal Kami made a key impact with the ball, taking three wickets for just 23 runs in his four overs, with an economy rate of 6.2. His timely strikes kept Scotland’s scoring in check despite their strong start.
Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved
- Nepal marked their first win in T20 World Cup history.
- Michael Leask became Scotland’s joint highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cups with his ninth wicket.
- Scotland suffered the most death overs wickets in this tournament, with 17 dismissals.
- Sompal Kami’s figures of 3 for 25 are the second-best for a Nepalese seamer in T20 World Cup history.
- Dipendra Singh Airee notched the fifth-fastest fifty by an Associate player in T20 World Cup history.
- Michael Jones’ score of 71 is the third-highest by a Scotland batter in T20 World Cups.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Dipendra Singh Airee received the Player of the Match award for his explosive 50 off 23 balls, demonstrating aggressive batting that helped Nepal achieve their historic win.
