Nepal’s third League 2 tri-series ends with some crucial points

By A Staff Reporter

Pathari Shanishchare, Nov. 6: Nepal’s third of the nine tri-series in the CWC League 2 cycle concluded on November 4 as their final game against Scotland at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas, USA, was called off due to bad weather. 

Nepal and Scotland shared points before both the teams went on a break of over six months in the three-year-long League 2 cycle. While the Scottish side will return into action in May 2025 when they and the UAE travel to the Netherlands, Scotland will host Nepal and the Dutch side in the same month. 

After zero wins in the four games of the first tri-series against the Netherlands and Namibia, Nepal had earned three points in the second tri-series against Canada and Oman. Nepal lost both games against Canada and earned the points through a win and an NR (No Result) against Oman.

A similar scenario repeated in the USA when Nepal lost both games of the third tri-series against the host while winning one against Scotland before the final encounter called off after the sixth over.

Now, Nepal has six points from 12 matches in the CWC League 2 keeping them at the second-to-last position over the UAE (4 points in 9 games). However, the UAE has the chance to climb over Nepal as their tri-series against Oman and the Netherlands kicked off on November 5 with an encounter between the other two. Moreover, the UAE also has one game against Scotland to be played after the one scheduled in March was suspended due to a storm.

On the other hand, the USA and Scotland are in the top three positions of the League. The USA earned four points with two wins over Nepal and is at the top of the table with 16 points in 12 matches; Scotland is placed third with 14 points in 11 matches.

Nepal was expected to deliver well against the host as they swept a three T20I tri-series before the League, but they lost both games in the crucial League. Meanwhile, the USA lost both games against the Scottish side, the side which lost to Nepal.

Scotland won dominantly against the top-placed USA in both games. They won by 10 wickets in the first encounter on October 25 and by 71 runs on October 31. 

Regarding Nepal vs USA, USA emerged victorious by three wickets and 37 runs on October 27 and November 2 respectively.

Nepal now has six tri-series left in the three-year cycle. Thus, the team has 24 more games to earn more crucial points and grab the chance to progress to the 2027 World Cup´s qualifiers as the top team of League 2 as they did in the previous edition, the inaugural one, in 2023.