Nepal turned a struggling ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign into a live qualification push with a strong home run in Kirtipur, winning six of eight ODIs across back-to-back tri-series against UAE, Oman, Scotland and USA.
Before the home stretch, Nepal were seventh with 12 points from 20 matches. By the end, they had climbed to fifth with 24 points from 28 matches, keeping themselves in contention for a top-four finish and a place in the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
The Story
The home block began with pressure. Nepal needed points, momentum and proof that their ODI unit could win consistently. They got all three.
Against UAE and Oman, Nepal won three of four matches. Dipendra Singh Airee was central to the first series, scoring 75 against UAE in the opener and then a century in another tight DLS win. Aasif Sheikh’s 94 and Gulshan Jha’s 5/38 powered Nepal to an 81-run win over Oman, helping them recover from a heavy DLS defeat earlier in the series.
The second series, against USA and Scotland, was even stronger. Nepal lost the opener to Scotland by just two runs on DLS, but then beat USA by nine wickets, Scotland by six wickets and USA again by 122 runs. Kushal Bhurtel’s 120, Rohit Paudel’s unbeaten 74, Ishan Pandey’s 84 and 55, and repeated wicket-taking spells from Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi and Dipendra gave Nepal a complete team performance.
Key Results
| Opponent | Result |
|---|---|
| UAE | Nepal won by 37 runs |
| Oman | Oman won by 102 runs, DLS |
| UAE | Nepal won by 6 runs, DLS |
| Oman | Nepal won by 81 runs |
| Scotland | Scotland won by 2 runs, DLS |
| USA | Nepal won by 9 wickets |
| Scotland | Nepal won by 6 wickets |
| USA | Nepal won by 122 runs |
Nepal won six of their eight home ODIs across the two CWC League 2 tri-series in Kirtipur. They began with a 37-run win over UAE before suffering their heaviest defeat of the block, a 102-run DLS loss to Oman. Nepal responded strongly, beating UAE by six runs on DLS and then defeating Oman by 81 runs to finish the first series with three wins from four matches. In the second home series, Nepal lost a tight DLS match to Scotland by two runs, but then produced three consecutive wins: a nine-wicket victory over USA, a six-wicket win against Scotland, and a commanding 122-run win over USA in the finale.
Batting Leaders
| Player | Runs | Best | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dipendra Singh Airee | 384 | 100 | Nepal’s batting MVP and middle-order engine |
| Aasif Sheikh | 271 | 94 | Gave stability at the top |
| Rohit Paudel | 212 | 74* | Anchored the Scotland chase |
| Kushal Bhurtel | 202 | 120 | Match-winning century vs USA |
| Ishan Pandey | 159 | 84 | Strong arrival at No.3 |
| Gulshan Jha | 151 | 61 | Added lower-middle-order power |
Dipendra Singh Airee was Nepal’s standout batter across the home stretch, scoring 384 runs with a best of 100 and repeatedly rescuing or accelerating the innings from the middle order. Aasif Sheikh added 271 runs, giving Nepal stability at the top, while captain Rohit Paudel contributed 212 runs, including an unbeaten 74 in the chase against Scotland. Kushal Bhurtel’s 202 runs were highlighted by a match-winning 120 against USA, and Ishan Pandey made an immediate impact with 159 runs in three innings, including scores of 84 and 55. Gulshan Jha also added important lower-middle-order value with 151 runs, including a rapid 61 against Scotland.
Bowling Leaders
| Player | Wickets | Best | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandeep Lamichhane | 19 | 4/41 | Nepal’s leading wicket-taker |
| Sompal Kami | 12 | 4/59 | New-ball and middle-over control |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | 11 | 4/24 | Game-changing all-round value |
| Gulshan Jha | 8 | 5/38 | Breakthrough series with the ball |
| Karan KC | 7 | 4/19 | Important early wickets |
| Lalit Rajbanshi | 7 | 4/32 | Key late-series spin spell |
Sandeep Lamichhane led Nepal’s bowling attack with 19 wickets, consistently breaking partnerships and controlling the middle overs. Sompal Kami was highly effective with the new ball and through the middle phase, taking 12 wickets, while Dipendra Singh Airee added 11 wickets to complete a strong all-round series. Gulshan Jha’s eight wickets included a match-winning 5/38 against Oman, underlining his growing value as a genuine all-round option. Karan KC took seven wickets, including 4/19 against UAE, and Lalit Rajbanshi also finished with seven wickets, producing a decisive 4/32 against Scotland late in the home campaign.
Nepal gained 12 points from eight matches, improving from 7th to 5th. The biggest shift was not just points, but depth: Nepal no longer depended on one player. Different wins came through different match-winners.
What Nepal Still Need
Nepal have eight matches left in the cycle. To push into the top four, they likely need at least five wins, and six would make the qualification race very serious. The next challenge is away from Kirtipur, where batting consistency, death bowling and handling pressure chases will decide whether this home revival becomes a full qualification charge.
