SCOTLAND EXACT NEPAL REVENGE WITH NAIL-BITING WIN

Scotland Men defeated Nepal by two runs in dramatic fashion, to exact revenge for Monday's final-ball heartache against the same opposition.

 

Chasing 324 to win, Nepal had reduced the target to just seven from the final over. Enter Safyaan Sharif, who stepped up to bowl a remarkable over, conceding just four runs and taking two wickets, including that of Lalit Rajbanshi from the final delivery.

 

Just like in the first meeting between the two sides, Nepal seemed dead and buried in pursuit of what would have been their highest-ever run chase - requiring 140 from the final 14 overs after being reduced to 183-6.

 

But Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami both struck half-centuries to put their side on course for a remarkable victory - before Sharif stepped up to save the day.

 

 

Earlier, a sparkling sixth ODI century from Richie Berrington, and a brutal unbeaten 96 from Michael Leask and helped Scotland post an imposing 323-6.

 

Berrington was part of two key partnerships for Scotland, adding 94 for the third wicket with Charlie Tear, who made an impressive 68, before taking Scotland from 162-5 to 287-6 in a little over 15 overs alongside Leask.

 

It could have been very different had Leask not been dropped when he was on just 14 - but he made the most of his life, with his 96 containing 12 fours and three sixes.

 

The late fireworks came from Mark Watt, striking Karan KC for three consecutive sixes in the final over, to lift Scotland to an imposing 323-6.

 

 

Nepal’s pursuit of a record run chase started disastrously - sliding to 34-3 as Mackenzie Jones took his first international wicket, before Brandon McMullen also struck.

 

Aarif Sheikh and Bhim Sharki rebuilt the Nepal innings, adding 94 for the fourth wicket – but they were always behind the rate, and suffered a blow when Leask bowled Sheikh for 39.

 

Sharki was the next to fall, for a fine 73, pulling Jones to McMullen at mid-wicket, before Leask struck again to dismiss Gulshan Jha, and leave Nepal 183-6.

 

Airee and Kampi then came together and added a remarkable 105 in 65 balls to drag their side back into the contest - Charlie Cassell finally breaking the partnership as Jones took an excellent catch to dismiss Airee (56).

 

 

Kami and KC put on 20 in just nine deliveries, Jones striking with the final ball of the 48th over to remove Kami for 67, and leave Nepal requiring 16 from the final two overs.

 

McMullen bowled the penultimate over, conceding nine, before Sharif stepped up to seal a nail-biting victory.