Sandeep Lamichhane Stars with 4/11 as Nepal Clinch Low-Scoring Nail-Biter
Nepal’s senior men’s cricket team continues to serve up edge-of-the-seat thrillers in the ongoing T20I tri-series in Glasgow, Scotland. After a dramatic double Super Over encounter against the Netherlands on June 16, Nepal found themselves in another nerve-wracking contest—this time against hosts Scotland. The result? A tense two-wicket win that was sealed on the penultimate delivery of the match.
Defending a low total of 97, Scotland looked like they might pull off a stunning upset. But leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane turned the tide with a sensational spell of 4 for 11, tearing through the Scottish middle order. His performance, backed by Karan KC (2/20) and Deepinder Singh Airee (2/24), restricted Scotland to a modest 97 in 19.4 overs. Only Michael Leask, who top-scored with 46, managed to put up a fight as wickets tumbled regularly around him.
Nepal Survive Late Collapse to Chase 98 in Final Over
In reply, Nepal’s chase was far from smooth. Openers got starts, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Kushal Bhurtel anchored the innings with a steady 30 off 35 balls before departing in the 13th over. From there, Nepal’s middle and lower order faltered under pressure, as Scottish bowlers Sharif (2/13) and Leask (2/21) kept things tight.
As the game went into the final over with scores tied and only two wickets in hand, the possibility of another Super Over loomed large. But Lamichhane, already the bowling hero, held his nerve and took a crucial single with Karan KC to seal the win with one ball remaining. Had that run not come through, Nepal could very well have found themselves in their fourth Super Over in just two days.
This win not only adds two points to Nepal’s tally but also reinforces their growing reputation as an unpredictable and gritty side capable of turning matches on their head.
Brief Scores:
Scotland: 97 all out in 19.4 overs (Michael Leask 46; Sandeep Lamichhane 4/11, Karan KC 2/20)
Nepal: 98/8 in 19.5 overs (Kushal Bhurtel 30; Sharif 2/13, Leask 2/21)
Result: Nepal won by 2 wickets
