Airee Fires Nepal to Thrilling 7-Wicket Victory Over Scotland at Wankhede
Mumbai, 18 (Sports Desk)
Nepal defeated Scotland by 7 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) in Match 33 of Group C at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India. This thrilling victory marked Nepal’s first win in the T20 World Cup in 12 years (since their debut in 2014), ending their campaign on a high note with a memorable chase and sending fans into raptures.
Match Summary
- Toss: Scotland opted to bat first.
- Scotland Innings: 170/7 in 20 overs.
- Opener Michael Jones anchored the innings with a solid 71 off 45 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes), providing stability.
- Contributions from Brandon McMullen (25) helped Scotland reach a competitive total.
- Nepal’s bowling was led by Sompal Kami (3/25 in 4 overs), who provided crucial breakthroughs, supported by Nandan Yadav (2/34). The attack restricted Scotland in the death overs, limiting them to 39 runs in the final five.
- Nepal Innings: 171/3 in 19.2 overs (target 171).
- Early stability from openers Kushal Bhurtel (43 off 35 balls) and Aasif Sheikh (33 off 27) set a platform.
- A mid-innings wobble saw Nepal at 98/3 in the 14th over after spinner Michael Leask (3/30) struck thrice to fight back.
- Dipendra Singh Airee turned the game with an explosive unbeaten 50 off just 23 balls (strike rate over 217), featuring aggressive boundaries and sixes. He forged a crucial 73-run stand with Gulshan Jha (24* off 17) to seal the chase comfortably.
- Airee’s knock included rapid strike rotation and powerful hitting, earning him the fastest T20 World Cup fifty for Nepal and highlighting his all-round prowess (he’s also among the tournament’s top run-scorers).
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Player of the Match
Dipendra Singh Airee was awarded Player of the Match for his match-winning unbeaten 50 off 23 balls, which rescued Nepal from a precarious position and powered them to a historic victory. In the post-match presentation, Airee thanked the passionate Nepali fans in Mumbai for their support, saying it provided immense motivation.
This result gave Nepal a proud send-off from the tournament, showcasing their fighting spirit and talent on the global stage against a strong Associate side like Scotland. The win was celebrated widely as a breakthrough moment for Nepali cricket.
