Karan KC Hits First ODI Half-Century as Nepal Beats Scotland in Record Chase

Nepal pulled off a historic win against Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 after a brilliant unbeaten half-century from Karan KC.

Batting at number 9, Karan scored an unbeaten 65 runs to help Nepal win the first match of the League 2 series by 1 wicket. Chasing a big target of 297 runs set by the home team Scotland, Nepal reached the goal with just one ball remaining, losing 9 wickets in the process. Karan hit 3 fours and 4 sixes in his 41-ball innings and was named Player of the Match.

This is Nepal’s highest-ever run chase in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Their previous best was chasing 287 runs against Canada.

Nepal was in deep trouble at 192 for 7, but Karan and Gulshan Jha built an important 60-run partnership for the 8th wicket.

In the final 6 overs, Nepal still needed 68 runs with only 3 wickets left. Gulshan hit two sixes in the 45th over, but got out in the 46th, leaving Nepal needing 43 runs from the last 4 overs.

In the next over, Safyaan Sharif gave away just 5 runs, making the equation 38 runs from the final 3 overs with Nepal at 159 for 8. In the 48th over, Karan hit a six and, along with Sandeep Lamichhane, scored 13 runs, bringing the target to 25 runs from the last 2 overs.

In the 49th over, Karan hit a six and two fours off Sharif, collecting 18 runs. This left Nepal needing only 7 runs from the final over.

On the first ball of the last over, Sandeep Lamichhane was caught out. After a wide and a dot ball, Rajan Dhakal took a single to give Karan the strike. Karan then hit two consecutive 2-run shots, making it 1 run needed off the last ball.

The final delivery went down the leg side for a wide. Rajan tried to take a bye run but was run out. However, since the ball was declared wide, Nepal got the extra run and won the match by 1 wicket in dramatic fashion.

Earlier in the innings, opener Kushal Bhurtel scored 53, Gulshan Jha made 42, Bhim Sharki 40, and captain Rohit Paudel added 37 runs.

For Scotland, Brandon McMullen took 3 wickets for 47 runs in 10 overs. Jack Jarvis and Michael Leask got 2 wickets each, while Jasper Davidson and Mark Watt took 1 wicket each.

Scotland had won the toss and chose to bat first in Dundee. They scored 296 runs for 7 wickets in 50 overs. Opener Charlie Tear was the top scorer with 80 runs off 72 balls, including 12 fours and 1 six. Finlay McCreath added 55, captain Richie Berrington made 40, and Matthew Cross scored 39.

For Nepal, Karan KC bowled 10 overs, giving 43 runs with 1 maiden and taking 2 wickets. Sompal Kami gave 66 runs in 10 overs and took 2 wickets, and Rajan Dhakal took 2 wickets for 78 runs. Sandeep Lamichhane claimed 1 wicket.

With this win, Nepal now has 8 points from 13 matches and moves to 7th place in the points table. Scotland remains in 4th place with 20 points from 17 matches.