Nepal Beat Scotland by 6 Wickets in ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2026 as Rohit Paudel Stars in Kirtipur

Nepal Beat Scotland by 6 Wickets in ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2026

Nepal produced a brilliant all-round performance to defeat Scotland by six wickets in the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2023-27 clash at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Led by a composed unbeaten innings from captain Rohit Paudel and a stunning bowling spell from Lalit Rajbanshi, Nepal comfortably chased down the target of 195 runs with 11 balls remaining.

The victory gave Nepal another important win in the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two campaign and delighted the home crowd in Kirtipur. While Scotland showed glimpses of brilliance with the bat through Brandon McMullen and Michael English, Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack made the difference during the middle overs.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Scotland got off to a mixed start. George Munsey and Brandon McMullen played aggressive cricket during the powerplay, helping Scotland reach 66 runs in the first ten overs. McMullen looked in sensational touch and attacked Nepal’s bowlers fearlessly with six boundaries and six towering sixes.

However, Nepal bounced back strongly through Sandeep Lamichhane and Lalit Rajbanshi. Sandeep dismissed George Munsey and Matthew Cross at crucial moments, while Lalit Rajbanshi completely dismantled Scotland’s lower middle order with a match-winning four-wicket haul.

Scotland’s innings lost momentum after Brandon McMullen departed for a dangerous 73 off just 44 balls. Michael English tried to stabilize the innings with a fighting 51 runs from 72 deliveries, but regular wickets prevented Scotland from building any major partnerships during the final overs.

Lalit Rajbanshi emerged as the biggest hero with the ball for Nepal, finishing with outstanding figures of 4 wickets for 32 runs. His spell turned the game completely in Nepal’s favor as Scotland were bowled out for 194 runs in 39.1 overs.

In reply, Nepal started the chase aggressively with Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh attacking Scotland’s bowlers early. The opening pair added 58 runs quickly and gave Nepal the perfect platform during the powerplay overs.

After a couple of quick wickets, captain Rohit Paudel and Ishan Pandey steadied the innings brilliantly with a match-defining partnership of 104 runs. Ishan Pandey played confidently for his 55-run knock, while Rohit Paudel anchored the chase calmly under pressure.

Rohit Paudel once again proved why he is considered one of Nepal’s most dependable batters in ODI cricket. The skipper remained unbeaten on 74 runs from 98 balls and guided Nepal safely towards the target with maturity and composure.

Scotland bowlers struggled to contain Nepal’s batters on a pitch that became easier for batting in the second innings. Mark Watt picked up two wickets, but the Scottish bowling attack failed to break the crucial partnership between Rohit Paudel and Ishan Pandey.

With this important victory, Nepal strengthened their confidence in the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two tournament. The team showcased excellent balance in both batting and bowling, while experienced players like Sandeep Lamichhane and Lalit Rajbanshi delivered strongly in key moments.

For Scotland, Brandon McMullen’s explosive innings remained one of the few positives from an otherwise disappointing outing. The visitors will now look to bounce back quickly in their upcoming fixtures as the race for World Cup qualification points continues to intensify.