Kathmandu: Nepal concluded their ICC T20 World Cup campaign with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Scotland in their final Group C match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Chasing a target of 171 runs, Nepal reached 171 for 3 with four balls to spare, securing their first World Cup win in 12 years. Although both teams were already eliminated from the Super Eights, Nepal finished on a positive note after a difficult tournament.

Vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airi starred with an unbeaten 50 off just 23 balls, smashing three sixes and four fours. He registered the fastest half-century by a Nepali player in a T20 World Cup and became the first Nepali cricketer to score two half-centuries in a single edition. Airi scored a total of 169 runs in the tournament.

Openers Kushal Bhurtel (43 off 35) and Asif Sheikh (33 off 27) laid a strong foundation with a 74-run partnership for the first wicket. Later, Gulshan Jha remained unbeaten on 24 off 17 balls, sharing a crucial 73-run stand with Airi to seal the win.

Earlier, Scotland posted 170 for 7 after winning the toss and batting first. Michael Jones scored 71 off 45 balls, while George Munsey added 27 off 29 in an 80-run opening partnership. For Nepal, Sompal Kami claimed three wickets for 25 runs, and Nandan Yadav took two wickets, while captain Rohit Poudel and Kushal Bhurtel picked up one each.

Nepal’s campaign had started with a narrow loss to England, followed by heavy defeats to Italy and the West Indies. The victory over Scotland provided a morale-boosting finish despite their early exit from the tournament.