Cricket
Poor batting put paid to Nepal’s hopes of improving on their rankings in the ICC World Cup League-2 triangular ODI series, as they suffered a three-wicket loss to Scotland on Sunday.
Chasing 138 runs for victory, Scotland crossed the rope in 32.1 overs for the loss of seven wickets at the United Cricket Club ground in Windhoek, Namibia.
The victory saw Scotland climb to the top of the league standings on 44 points from 30 games. Having defeated Namibia in their opening outing on Thursday, Scotland have also guaranteed their place in the top three of the competition.
After early hiccups, Christopher McBride played with judicious aggression to guide Scotland to victory. He made 43 runs off 47 balls with the help of seven fours.
Sagar Dhakal gave Nepal early inroads into Scotland batting, cleaning up timbers of opener George Munshe for 17 runs in the last ball of the third over. Munshe hit three fours in 15 balls.
Fast bowler Gulshan Jha raised Nepal’s hopes, removing Kyle Kotzer and Scotland captain Richie Berrington both on three runs.
Spinner Lalit Rajbanshi got McBride stumped and then trapped wicketkeeper Matthew Cross leg before for 13 runs to leave Scotland on 86-5.
However, Michael Lisk made 22 runs off 29 balls with three fours to take them closer to the victory. And Brendan McMullan finished the game with a six off Sagar Dhakal to remain unbeaten on 32 runs.
For Nepal, Rajbanshi, Dhakal and Jha took two wickets each.
Earlier, Nepal set a modest target of 138 runs after Scotland captain Richie Berrington won the toss and invited them to bat first.
Nepal were all out for 137 runs in 40.1 overs. Gulshan Jha top scored with 29 runs off 29 balls, hitting three fours and a six.
Opener Asif Shaikh fell on seven, edging fast bowler Brendan McMallan to wicketkeeper Matthew Cross. Arjun Saud and Gyanendra Malla shared 37 runs for the second wicket to raise the Nepali hope of revival.
However, Saud was run out by Bellington on 18. Malla was caught by Kyle Kotzer off the spin of Mark Watko in the 17th over.
Fast bowler Chris Soul snared two consecutive wickets in the 24th over to leave Nepal deeper into crisis.
After getting Arif Sheikh caught behind on 10 runs in the first ball of his 24th over, Soul caught Kushal Bhurtel of his own bowling the next ball. Rohit got out after scoring 17 runs off 43 balls.
Kushal Bhurtel was out in the first ball he faced and Dipendra Singh Airee was dismissed for nine runs. Nepal continued to lose wickets at regular intervals as Karan KC was run out for eight, Sagar Dhakal (4) and Lalit Rajbanshi (3).
Scotland's Chris Soul took three wickets for 12 runs in seven overs, while Mark Watley took two wickets for 19 runs in 8.1 overs.
Nepal, who shared points with Namibia on Friday after their match was washed out due to on Saturday, are currently in sixth place on 18 points from 22 matches with eight wins and 12 losses.
Oman are second in the standings with 44 points from 36 matches with 21 wins, followed by the US with 35 points with 16 wins in 36 games. Namibia are fourth with 33 points with 16 wins from 28 matches. The UAE are fifth with 27 points with 12 wins from 26 matches, and Papua New Guinea are at the bottom with two wins from 28 matches.
Also Read: Nepal squad announced for ICC World Cup League-2 in Namibia
