Watch: Fans invade stadium after Nepal register thrilling one-wicket win over Scotland
Karan KC earned the Player of the Match award for his all-around performance.
Nepal stunned Scotland with a thrilling one-wicket victory in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match in Dundee on Monday. But the drama didn’t end with the winning run, as the excited Nepal fans in the stands ran onto the field, celebrating their team’s highest-ever successful ODI run chase.
The game began with Nepal calling it correctly and electing to field first. Scotland posted 296/7 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to Charlie Tear’s 80 and Finlay McCreath’s 55. Further, skipper Richie Berrington (40) and wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Cross (39) added crucial runs to push the total over the 290-run mark. Meanwhile, for Nepal, Karan KC was the pick of the bowlers, picking up 2 for 43 in his ten overs. Sompal Kami and Rijan Dhakal also chipped in with two wickets apiece, and Sandeep Lamichhane bagged a single wicket.
In reply, Nepal got off to a strong start. Opener Kushal Bhurtel smashed a 53 off 44 balls, supported by Bhim Sharki (40) and captain Rohit Paudel (37). But a middle-order collapse triggered by Scotland’s Brandon McMullen, who took three wickets, put Nepal on the back foot.
Karan, who walked in at No.7, acted as the crisis manager and stitched an important 60-run partnership with Gulsan Jha, who scored a 30-ball 42. After Jha's dismissal in the 46th over, Karan kept the scoring board ticking and played the majority of the deliveries.
The equation came down to five runs needed off the final three balls. Karan managed to get two doubles before the penultimate delivery. With just one run required of the final delivery, Scotland’s left-arm spinner Mark Watt bowled around the wicket and targeted Karan’s pads.
However, the delivery missed the batter's flick attempt, and keeper Matthew Cross gathered it after a fumble and broke the stumps. While Scotland celebrated, believing they had bowled Nepal out and forced a Super Over. But the umpire called it a wide with Karan KC, already half-celebrating and raising his bat. Following this, fans ran onto the field, climbing over barriers, waving flags, hugging players, and lifting Karan onto their shoulders.
Watch the video below:
369
74Download Our App