Nepal scripted a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Scotland in the 33rd match of Group C at the Mumbai venue in the T20 World Cup 2026. They chased down Scotland's total of 170 runs with four balls to spare, thanks to a thrilling finish from Dipendra Singh Airee. Nepal finished at 171/3 in 19.2 overs.
Scotland, who chose to bat first, got off to a flying start in the powerplay. They scored at a rapid clip, reaching 52 without loss in six overs. Michael Jones was the star of the show, smashing a half-century in just 31 balls. His knock consisted of six fours and two sixes. The opening stand laid a solid platform for the Scottish team. They crossed the 100-run mark in the 12th over, with Brandon McMullen contributing at the other end.
However, Nepal got back into the game in the last few overs. They bowled tight and fielded smartly, restricting the Scottish team to a competitive total of 170/7 in 20 overs.
For Nepal, the strong start was the key to set the tone for the chase. Nepal reached 56/0 in six overs, with Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh adding 50 runs in quick time for the opening partnership. Even though Nepal lost some wickets in the middle, the chase was maintained, with Nepal keeping the strike rate in check at 98/3 by the 14th over, giving the Scottish team some hope.
But Airee changed everything. Dipendra Singh Airee produced a fearless show, scoring a 23-ball fifty, including four boundaries and three huge sixes, to change the course of the game. His fearless hitting in the death overs killed the Scottish game plan, with his 50* off 23 balls sealing the win for Nepal in 19.2 overs.
Player of the Match: Dipendra Singh Airee, for his match-winning 50* to win the game for Nepal.
Group C implications: Nepal’s win boosts their chances in Group C, while Scotland are disappointed for not defending their strong total.
With confidence growing and key players stepping up under pressure, Nepal’s thrilling win in Mumbai could prove to be a defining moment in their T20 World Cup 2026 journey.