Mumbai, February 17, 2026 –Nepal vs Scotland T20 ICC World Cup: In what will be remembered as a red-letter day for Nepali cricket, the “Rhinos” chased down a target of 171 with eight balls to spare. On a pitch that offered bounce and turn, Nepal’s batters showed remarkable composure to outclass a seasoned Scottish side. While Scotland’s Richie Berrington played a captain’s knock of 55 to set a competitive target, it wasn’t enough to stop the wave of Nepali momentum led by Aasif Sheikh and Rohit Paudel.
Nepal vs Scotland T20 ICC World Cup Match Overview: The Heartbreak of Group C
Scotland entered this match knowing a win was non-negotiable for their qualification hopes. They started cautiously, but a middle-order surge led by Berrington and Michael Leask pushed their score to 170/7. Nepal’s bowling, led by the spin duo of Sandeep Lamichhane and Dipendra Singh Airee, was disciplined, ensuring the Scots never truly got away.
Nepal’s response was electric. Kushal Bhurtel provided the early fireworks, while Aasif Sheikh played the role of the anchor. When Bhurtel fell, skipper Rohit Paudel stepped in to play a masterclass in gap-finding and strike rotation. The 71-run partnership between Aasif and Rohit took the game away from Scotland. Despite a late wobble, Nepal crossed the finish line in the 20th over, sparking wild celebrations among the thousands of Nepali fans in Mumbai.
Nepal vs Scotland Match Scorecard: Detailed Statistics
1st Innings: Scotland Batting
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| George Munsey | b Sompal Kami | 22 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 122.22 |
| Michael Jones | c Aasif b Lamichhane | 18 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Brandon McMullen | c Gulshan b Airee | 28 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 116.67 |
| Richie Berrington (c) | c Paudel b Sompal | 55 | 38 | 4 | 2 | 144.74 |
| Matthew Cross (wk) | b Karan KC | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Michael Leask | c Bhurtel b Lamichhane | 30 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 214.28 |
| Mark Watt | not out | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Chris Greaves | run out (Paudel) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | (w 9, lb 3) | 12 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (20 Overs) | 170/7 | RR: 8.50 |
Nepal Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Sompal Kami | 4.0 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 8.00 |
| Karan KC | 4.0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | 4.0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 7.25 |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | 4.0 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 |
| Gulshan Jha | 3.0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 9.33 |
| Lalit Rajbanshi | 1.0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9.00 |
2nd Innings: Nepal Batting (Target: 171)
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Kushal Bhurtel | c Watt b Wheal | 35 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 166.67 |
| Aasif Sheikh (wk) | c Berrington b Sharif | 52 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 130.00 |
| Rohit Paudel (c) | not out | 58 | 42 | 5 | 2 | 138.10 |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | c Jones b Currie | 14 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 127.27 |
| Gulshan Jha | not out | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 266.67 |
| Extras | (w 3, lb 1) | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (19.2 Overs) | 171/3 | RR: 8.84 |
Scotland Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Brad Wheal | 4.0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 8.50 |
| Bradley Currie | 3.2 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 10.80 |
| Mark Watt | 4.0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 7.00 |
| Safyaan Sharif | 4.0 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 10.50 |
| Chris Greaves | 3.0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 7.33 |
| Michael Leask | 1.0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 |
Post-Match Analysis: Key Takeaways
1. The Leadership of Rohit Paudel
Nepal’s captain showed why he is the backbone of this team. Chasing a testing 171, he walked in early and never let the pressure build. His ability to manipulate the field and find boundaries toward the end of the Powerplay kept Nepal ahead of the DLS par score throughout the night.
2. Scotland’s Death Bowling Woes
Scotland had Nepal under pressure at several points, but their death bowling lacked the discipline required at the Wankhede. Safyaan Sharif and Bradley Currie struggled with their lengths, allowing Gulshan Jha and Rohit Paudel to finish the game with over an over to spare.
3. The “Lamichhane” Factor
Sandeep Lamichhane’s spell (2/29) in the middle overs was the turning point in the first innings. By removing the dangerous Michael Jones and later Michael Leask just as he was looking to explode, Sandeep ensured Scotland was kept to 170 rather than 190.
4. Impact on Group C
This result is catastrophic for Scotland. With this loss, they remain on 2 points, while England and West Indies have already secured their path. Nepal finishes with 2 points as well, but this victory against a top Associate side like Scotland serves as a massive confidence booster for their future tours.
Player of the Match: Rohit Paudel
For his match-winning captain’s knock of 58 (42)* and exceptional leadership on the field.