Scotland Post 243/8, Nepal Face Chase of 244 at Kirtipur

Scotland have posted 243 for 8 after choosing to bat first, and Nepal now have a date with destiny. The Rhinos need 244 runs from 50 overs at their fortress in Kirtipur, and what happens next in this ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2023-27 match could have a direct say on who reaches the 2027 World Cup.

Scotland Bat First, Set Nepal a Competitive Target

Scotland captain Richie Berrington won the toss and chose to bat first at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground. It was a confident call from the visiting side.

Scotland finished their 50-over innings at 243 for 8, posting a run rate of 4.86 across the full quota of overs. Michael English was unbeaten on 34 off 72 balls at the close of the innings, while Nandan Yadav was the standout bowler for Nepal in the final stages, finishing with figures of 2 for 33 in 8 overs.

The target of 244 is competitive. The average first innings total at Kirtipur in 2026 has been just 230, meaning Scotland have beaten par. Nepal will need a sharp, disciplined batting performance to get over the line on home soil.

Weather conditions at the ground are warm, with broken cloud cover, a temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius at the time of play, and calm wind. No rain interruptions are expected, meaning this should be a full 50-over chase for Nepal.

The Road Nepal and Scotland Took to Get Here

Nepal arrive at this match on the back of two back-to-back wins. First, they edged past UAE in a nervy 6-run victory in a rain-hit match, then they dominated Oman by 81 runs in their previous home fixture.

In that win against Oman, Aasif Sheikh struck a brilliant 94 while Arjun Kumal added 48 to help Nepal post 256. Then, seam bowler Gulshan Jha ripped through the Oman lineup with a five-wicket haul to dismiss them for 175. It was a complete team performance and gave Nepal real confidence heading into this contest.

Scotland, on the other hand, came into this tri-series after a 7-wicket win over Namibia in April. Brandon McMullen, arguably Scotland’s most dangerous batter right now, smashed a stunning century off just 92 balls in that game. Richie Berrington chipped in with 43 to seal the chase comfortably.

“Scotland currently hold second place on the points table with 34 points from 28 matches, while Nepal sit seventh with 18 points from 24 games.”
The gap between the two sides on the standings tells the real story. For Scotland, this is about consolidating their push toward the top. For Nepal, this is about survival and relevance in the race for World Cup qualification.

Points Table Stakes and What This Series Means

This match is the opening game of a crucial tri-series in Nepal that also features the United States. Every win here carries enormous weight in the overall CWC League Two points standings.

Here is where the two sides stand in the table heading into this match:

Team Position Played Won Lost Points
Scotland 2nd 28 14 8 34
Nepal 7th 24 8 14 18
Nepal have faced a tough campaign overall, but the momentum from recent wins at home against UAE and Oman suggests the tide could be turning. Home conditions, passionate crowd support, and a familiar pitch make Kirtipur a fortress that visiting teams have historically struggled to crack.

In fact, at this venue, teams batting second have won 22 out of 40 completed matches. The numbers slightly favor Nepal as chasers, though 244 will demand focus from ball one.

Playing XIs and the Players Who Could Decide This Match

Both sides have named their final elevens for this crucial contest.

Nepal XI: Binod Bhandari (wk), Aasif Sheikh, Arjun Kumal, Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi
Scotland XI: George Munsey, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, Michael English, Richie Berrington (c), Matthew Cross (wk), Michael Leask, Mark Watt, Brad Currie, Jack Jarvis, Oliver Davidson
Sandeep Lamichhane is Nepal’s most potent weapon at Kirtipur. The leg-spinner has 31 wickets in the CWC League Two and thrives on his home surface where the pitch traditionally supports spin bowling as the game deepens.

Dipendra Singh Airee leads Nepal’s batting charts in this cycle with 620 runs and has been in outstanding form recently, with scores of 33, 100, 60, and 75 in his last four innings. Nepal will need him to fire in the chase.

For Scotland, George Munsey tops their run-scoring chart with 1,049 runs in this campaign. Brandon McMullen, meanwhile, leads with 35 wickets and has also been electric with the bat. He is a genuine match-winner in both departments.

Nepal also hold a slight edge in the head-to-head record, with five ODI wins to Scotland’s four. That psychological advantage, combined with home support, could play a big role as the Rhinos walk out to bat.

How and Where to Watch Nepal vs Scotland Live

For fans in India, this match is live-streamed on the FanCode app and website. The match is not being televised on any platform in India. Fans outside India can check local broadcast and streaming rights in their region through the ICC’s official website.

The match started at 9:15 AM IST on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Nepal.

As Nepal prepare to walk out and chase 244, the entire nation will be watching. Two wins on the bounce, a familiar pitch, and a passionate home crowd backing them, this is the kind of stage Rohit Paudel and his team have been waiting for. The World Cup 2027 dream is still alive, and today’s chase could be a defining chapter in this team’s story. This is not just a cricket match for Nepal, it is a statement of intent. Stay tuned and share your match predictions with fellow fans using #NEPvsSCO.