“Nepal showed that perseverance and teamwork can break long-standing droughts”
Nepal secured a memorable seven-wicket win over Scotland in their final Group C match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Chasing a target of 171, Nepal reached 171/3 in 19.2 overs, winning with four balls to spare.
Scotland batted first and posted 170 for 7 in their 20 overs. Opener Michael Jones scored 71 runs, which set a competitive total. In response, Nepal started their chase strongly. Openers Kushal Bhurtel (43) and Aasif Sheikh (33) put on a 74-run partnership.
Then, Dipendra Singh Airee played a match-defining innings. He scored an unbeaten 50 off 23 balls and struck three sixes. He shared an unbroken 73-run stand with Gulsan Jha (24 not out), which guided Nepal to victory. Meanwhile, Sompal Kami was the standout bowler, taking 3 wickets for 25 runs to restrict Scotland.
This victory marked Nepal’s first T20 World Cup win since their debut in 2014. It also ended a six-match losing streak in World Cup games. Although both teams exited the group stage, the win provided a major morale boost. Furthermore, it became a historic moment for Nepal cricket.