History was made at Wankhede as Nepal notched their inaugural T20 World Cup success, overpowering Scotland by 7 wickets in a dead rubber. Both teams fought for dignity after early exits from contention, and Nepal emerged victorious on Tuesday, shattering their tournament jinx.
Opting to field, Nepal restricted Scotland to 170/7. Openers Munsey (27 off 29, 4×4) and Jones (71 off 45, 8×4, 3×6) forged 80 in 10 overs, followed by Jones-McMullen’s 52-run stand. McMullen (25) and Watt (10) followed, but Sompal Kami’s 3-wicket haul, Yadav’s brace, and wickets from Paudel and Bhurtel kept control.
Target in sight, Nepal lost Bhurtel (43, 35b, 1×4, 4×6) and Sheikh (33, 27b, 2×6) after a 74-run powerplay burst, slipping to 98/3. Enter Gulshan Jha and the hero of the day, Dipendra Singh Airee, who sealed an unbroken 73 off 36 balls.
Airee’s unbeaten 50 (23b, 4×4, 3×6) was a masterclass in acceleration, complemented by Jha’s 24* (17b). Leask’s 3 wickets were Scotland’s only bright spot in the chase that concluded in 19.2 overs.
For Nepal, this isn’t just a win—it’s redemption. Captain Rohit Paudel and his men have shown they belong among the elite, paving the way for bolder performances in upcoming editions.