SCOTLAND COME UNSTUCK AGAINST NEPAL
Scotland Men suffered their first loss on their tour of Nepal, as they slipped to a six-wicket defeat to the hosts.
Batting first, Scotland were bowled out for 194 - spin duo Lalit Rajbanshi (4-32) and Sandeep Lamichhane (3-47) combining to restrict Scotland, before Nepal reached their target inside 39 overs..
A much more substantial score had looked possible for Scotland whilst Brandon McMullen was at the crease, the all-rounder striking a sublime 44-ball 73 that included six sixes - but when he fell his side were 126-4, and lost their last seven wickets for just 68 runs.
Michael English ensured Scotland got as close to 200 as they did, recording an excellent 51 as he was the last man out, with no other batter passing 21 - although Richie Berrington did record the three runs he needed to reach 9000 in a Scotland jersey.
In reply, Nepal openers Kushal Bhurtel (28) and Aasif Sheikh (29) denied Scotland the early wickets they so desperately desired, adding 58 for the opening wicket inside seven overs.
Superb work from George Munsey brought about the Scotland breakthrough as Sheikh was run out, before just four balls later McMullen trapped Bhurtel in front.
That brought together Ishan Pandey and Rohit Paudel, who made sure there was no Nepal wobble - the pair adding 104 for the third wicket as they ticked their side towards their target.
Both would reach their half-centuries, before Pandey (55) and Dipendra Singh Airee (2) fell to Mark Watt. But captain Paudel remained, finishing unbeaten on 74 - ending the game with a flourish as he lofted Michael Leask down the ground for six.
Scotland captain Richie Berrington said: "It was a tough one today, I think a lot of credit has to go to Nepal with the way they bowled in that first innings.
"We got ourselves into a really good position after around 20 overs, but just lost our way a little bit through the middle and we were too short of runs today, not enough to apply pressure in the second innings."
Scotland will round out their current series in Nepal against the USA on Wednesday morning from 0445 BST.