The Wankhede Stadium was transformed into a sea of red and blue on Tuesday night as Nepal concluded their historic T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a thrilling victory. After three previous attempts at the venue, the underdog side finally gave their 19,000 traveling supporters the result they craved by chasing down a challenging target against Scotland.
While Michael Jones and Michael Leask initially put Scotland in a commanding position with the bat and ball respectively, Nepal’s resilience shifted the momentum late in both innings. They ultimately reached the 171-run objective with seven wickets in hand and four deliveries remaining in the match.
Turning Points of the Match
- The Death Overs Surge: Led by veteran Sompal Kami, the Nepalese bowlers restricted Scotland to just 39 runs while taking six wickets in the final five overs, preventing a total that could have exceeded 200.
- The Airee-Jha Partnership: Dipendra Singh Airee and Gulshan Jha combined for a blistering, unbeaten 73-run stand off just 36 balls to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
- The 16th Over Onslaught: Airee dismantled Scotland’s momentum by taking 20 runs off a single over from Leask, including two massive sixes that electrified the crowd.
The chase looked precarious when Gulshan Jha joined Airee at the crease with 72 runs still required from 40 balls. However, Jha’s confident stroke play—highlighted by an incredible lofted drive into the pavilion—complemented Airee’s experienced strike rotation to bring the game home.
Jha eventually sealed the historic win by clinicaly finding the midwicket boundary in the final over. This victory ensures that Nepal heads home not just with memories of a spirited run, but with a significant win against a seasoned associate rival.
