Dundee: Nepal lost to host Scotland in the triangular one-day series under the ICC Cricket World Cup League-2, as the match held at Dundee-based Fort Hill Cricket Stadium saw the host team clinch victory by a narrow margin of two runs on Sunday. Chasing a formidable target of 324 runs, Nepal fell just short, ending their innings at 321 runs in the allotted 50 overs.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Bhim Sarki emerged as the top performer for Nepal, delivering an enduring inning with the highest contribution of 73 runs off 85 balls, including eight boundaries. Bhim Sarki’s partnership with Arif Sheikh, which amassed 94 runs, was pivotal, although Sheikh was dismissed after scoring 39 runs off 55 balls, striking five fours.
Vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee added 56 runs off 51 balls to Nepal’s total, showcasing a crucial partnership with Sompal Kami. The pair combined for a seventh-wicket stand of 105 runs. Sompal Kami’s aggressive innings saw him score 67 runs off 44 balls, featuring three boundarie
s and four sixes.
Scotland’s victory was anchored by their captain, Richie Berrington, who scored a century with 102 runs. On the bowling front, Nepal’s Karan KC and Dipendra Singh Airee each claimed two wickets, while Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi took one. Despite these efforts, Nepal narrowly missed the target, resulting in a close defeat.