Nepal crush USA, sign off League‑2 home leg in style

By Pramod Joshi, Kathmandu, May 23: Nepal signed off their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League‑2 home leg in emphatic fashion, thrashing leaders USA by 122 runs at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Friday.

Having hosted two tri‑series within a month, the Rhinos secured six wins to leapfrog from seventh to fifth in the standings, collecting 24 points from 28 matches. In the first leg against UAE and Oman (25 April–5 May), Nepal beat UAE twice and Oman once. In the current series, they downed USA twice and Scotland once. USA and Scotland are level on 38 points, but the Americans edge ahead on net run rate.

Captain Rohit Paudel hailed the effort of his team. “Getting six wins out of eight is an incredible job from all the players. The coaching staff have been great too. Everyone played their part today, the batting unit set it up and the bowlers seized every opportunity. I am very proud of them.”

Nepal now face eight must‑win fixtures to stay in contention for direct qualification to the ODI World Cup and to retain ODI status. Their next tri‑series is in July against hosts Netherlands and Namibia, followed by October’s away leg against Oman and Canada.

Oman sit third with 31 points and eight matches in hand, Netherlands fourth with 28 points and 12 left to play, Namibia sixth with 22 points and eight remaining, while Canada are seventh on 21 points with 12 fixtures still to come.

With only the top four sides qualifying directly for the World Cup and the top six retaining ODI status, every game is critical for Nepal. They do not have the luxury to lose any match. The Rhinos need to carry the momentum, which captain Paudel also stressed. 

“We won crucial games against Oman and UAE, and carrying that momentum gave us confidence to win this series too. We’ve shown we can win tight games, and that belief is vital for coming away series too.”

Nepal's record total at TU 

Put in to bat at TU Cricket Ground on Friday, Nepal piled up 317 for 8 in 50 overs, their highest ODI total at TU Ground. Their previous best was 310/8 against Oman on 21 April, 2023. 

The ground record remains Scotland’s 321 on May 14. It was also the third time Nepal have passed 300 in ODIs, having scored 321 against Scotland in Dundee on 8 June, 2025.

Openers Kushal Bhurtel (29) and Aasif Sheikh (43) laid a 69‑run platform. At 84/2, Ishan Pandey and skipper Rohit Paudel rebuilt with a century stand, adding 110 for the third wicket. 

Paudel made 46, while Pandey struck a fluent 84 off 83 balls, his second ODI fifty and third match‑winning knock in as many games. It was the second century stand between Paudel and Pandey after 104 against Scotland on 18 May.

Vice‑captain Dipendra Singh Airee then cut loose, blasting 59 off 36 balls, including his ninth ODI fifty from just 29 deliveries. He shared a 47‑run stand with Gulshan Jha (15) before being run out in the penultimate over taking Nepal to 300. Aarif Sheikh finished unbeaten on 18. 

For USA, Shubham Ranjane took three wickets, while Rushil Ugarkar and Milind Kumar claimed one apiece.

After picking his first Player of the Match trophy in ODI, Pandey said he is very happy to win a match for country. “I have been practising hard day and night, manifesting this moment to win a game for Nepal. The conditions suited me. We had to make a solid partnership and the plan from management is clear, I should be there around the 40th over. That’s my role and I was doing that, which I love to do.”

Praising his young partner, Skipper Paudle said: “We were looking for a left‑hander and he has cemented his role on Number 3. He looks very confident and I hope he continues to score more runs for Nepal.”

Spinners seal the win

In reply, USA were bundled out for 195 in 41.2 overs as Nepal’s spinners ran riot. Sandeep Lamichhane (3‑30), Airee (2‑26) and Rajbanshi (2‑38) shared seven wickets, backed by pacers Jha (2) and Sompal Kami (1).

USA lost opener Smit Patel for a duck in the first over. Shayan Jahangir (27) and Shehan Jayasuriya (26) added 53, but Lamichhane broke through, and the visitors collapsed to 95/7. Captain Saiteja Mukkamalla (22) and others fell cheaply.

A late rally came via Sanjay Krishnamurthi (56) and Nosthush Kenjige (29), who added 70 for the eighth wicket. Krishnamurthi’s aggressive knock included four fours and four sixes before falling to Jha. Kenjige was last out, leaving USA well short.