Nepal and Scotland locked horns in Match 104 of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 2023-27 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday. The much-awaited ODI clash attracted huge attention as both teams looked to strengthen their position in the points table.
Scotland won the toss and decided to bat first on a surface expected to help batters later in the game. The pitch at Kirtipur was predicted to offer some early assistance to bowlers before becoming easier for batting as the match progressed.
George Munsey and Finlay McCreath opened the innings for Scotland, while Brandon McMullen once again remained one of the key players to watch after his recent all-round performances. Scotland entered the match with strong momentum and were aiming to move closer to the top spot in the standings.
Nepal, led by Rohit Paudel, came into the contest after impressive performances in recent matches. The home side relied heavily on star names like Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami and Gulsan Jha to challenge the Scottish batting lineup.
According to probable team reports, Nepal’s playing XI included Arjun Kumal, Binod Bhandari, Bhim Sharki, Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane and Lalit Rajbanshi. Scotland’s likely XI featured George Munsey, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington, Mark Watt, Matthew Cross, Christopher McBride, Michael Leask, Jack Jarvis, Oliver Davidson and Jasper Davidson.
The match was seen as an important contest for both teams in the ongoing League 2 campaign. Nepal had won three of their last five ODIs against Scotland, making the rivalry even more exciting ahead of this clash.
At the time of the latest update, Scotland had made a solid start after choosing to bat first, crossing the 100-run mark with only a few wickets down.