Nepal A Defeat Scotland by 45 Runs in Practice Series

Nepal A began its practice series against Scotland and the United States with a convincing victory after defeating Scotland by 45 runs at the Upper Mulpani Ground on Thursday.

The match was played ahead of the upcoming ICC World Cup League 2 series involving Nepal, Scotland and the United States, giving Nepal A an important opportunity to test its squad in competitive conditions. A strong batting display followed by disciplined bowling helped the home side secure a comfortable result after setting a challenging target.

Nepal A Posts Competitive Total After Winning Toss

Nepal A elected to bat first after winning the toss and managed to build a solid total of 277 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted overs.

The innings was anchored by Dev Khanal, who produced an impressive knock of 63 runs from 65 deliveries. His innings included six boundaries and one six, helping Nepal maintain momentum during the middle overs.

The opening partnership also provided a steady start. Mayan Yadav contributed 45 runs while Anil Sah added 18 before Nepal continued to accelerate through the middle order.

Middle-Order Contributions Strengthen Nepal’s Innings

Several batters chipped in with useful contributions as Nepal A pushed towards a competitive total in the latter stages of the innings.

Sundeep Jora added 34 runs during a crucial phase of the match, while Pawan Sarraf scored a quick 31 from just 18 balls to increase the scoring rate.

Lower down the order, Rashid Khan remained unbeaten on 14 runs from 10 deliveries. Deepak Dumre also played an aggressive late cameo, finishing unbeaten on 23 runs from only seven balls. His innings featured four boundaries and one six, giving Nepal additional runs in the final overs.

Scottish Bowlers Pick Up Important Wickets

Despite Nepal A’s strong total, Scotland managed to make breakthroughs at regular intervals during the innings.

Bradley Currie and Safyan Sharif were the standout bowlers for the visiting side, taking two wickets each. Their efforts helped Scotland avoid conceding an even bigger score after Nepal had looked set to dominate completely in the closing stages.

Still, Nepal’s balanced batting effort ensured the team crossed the 270-run mark and placed Scotland under pressure during the chase.

Scotland Starts Well in Run Chase

Chasing a target of 278 runs, Scotland began positively with the opening pair putting together a strong partnership.

Finlay McCreath scored 52 runs while Mark Watt added 37 as the pair shared an opening stand of 87 runs. Their partnership gave Scotland early momentum and briefly placed pressure back on the Nepalese bowlers.

Jack Jarvis later contributed 45 runs and attempted to keep Scotland in the contest as wickets started falling around him.

Nepal Bowlers Turn Match Around

Nepal A gradually regained control of the game through disciplined bowling and timely wickets.

Rashid Khan led the bowling attack with three wickets, helping Nepal break Scotland’s batting rhythm during the middle overs.

Shahab Alam, Yuvraj Khatri and Basir Ahmad each claimed two wickets as Scotland’s batting lineup struggled to keep pace with the required run rate.

The visitors were eventually bowled out for 232 runs in 48.2 overs, handing Nepal A a comfortable 45-run victory.

Important Preparation Ahead of League 2 Series

The practice series involving Nepal A, Scotland and the United States is being played as preparation for the upcoming ICC World Cup League 2 fixtures.

For Nepal A, the victory offers confidence ahead of tougher matches to come, especially after both the batting and bowling units delivered balanced performances.

• Nepal A scored 277 runs for eight wickets after batting first.
• Dev Khanal top-scored with 63 runs from 65 balls.
• Scotland were bowled out for 232 runs in 48.2 overs.
• Rashid Khan took three wickets for Nepal A.
• The series serves as preparation for the ICC World Cup League 2 competition.

Balanced Team Effort Secures Opening Win

Nepal A’s victory was built on contributions across the squad rather than relying on a single performance. The batting lineup produced partnerships at key moments, while the bowlers responded effectively after Scotland’s strong start in the chase.

The result also highlighted the depth available within the Nepal setup ahead of the international fixtures involving Scotland and the United States. With an opening win already secured in the practice series, Nepal A will look to carry the same momentum into the remaining matches.