Ishan Pandey's composed 84 and Dipendra Singh Airee's rapid 59 powered Nepal to a 122-run win over USA in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Friday.
Asked to bat first, Nepal posted 317/8 in 50 overs. It was Nepal's highest ODI total at Kirtipur and only four runs short of the venue's overall ODI record.
USA were bowled out for 195 in 41.2 overs while chasing 318. The win helped Nepal finish the home series with three victories from four matches.
Nepal made a strong start through Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh. The pair added 62 runs in the first 10 overs before Kushal was dismissed for 29 off 39 balls. Aasif made 43 off 57 balls with six fours.
Ishan then gave Nepal's innings its base. He added 110 runs for the third wicket with captain Rohit Paudel, who scored 46 off 59 balls. Ishan made 84 off 83 balls, hitting eight fours and one six.
Dipendra gave Nepal the finish they needed. He reached his half-century in 29 balls and finished with 59 off 35 balls, striking four fours and four sixes. Aarif Sheikh remained unbeaten on 18 off 10 balls.
USA's chase started poorly when Sompal Kami removed Smit Patel in the first over. Shayan Jahangir and Shehan Jayasuriya tried to rebuild, but Nepal kept taking wickets through the middle overs.
Sandeep Lamichhane led the attack with 3/30 from 10 overs. Lalit Rajbanshi, Dipendra and Gulshan Jha took two wickets each, while Sompal claimed one.
Sanjay Krishnamurthi top-scored for USA with 56 off 44 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes. Nosthush Kenjige made 29, but USA never recovered enough to challenge the target.
With the win, Nepal moved to 24 points from 28 matches and stayed fifth in the League 2 table. USA remain on top with 38 points from 28 matches, level on points with Scotland, who have played 32 matches.
