MUMBAI: Dipendra Singh Airee hit an unbeaten 50 as Nepal saved their best for last to end their T20 World Cup campaign with a seven-wicket win over Scotland on Tuesday.
Chasing 171 for victory, Nepal looked in trouble at 98-3 in the 14th over before Airee took the initiative in his 23-ball knock as his team achieved the target with four balls to spare in Mumbai.
Airee put on 73 runs with Gulsan Jha, who made 24 not out, as Nepal earned their first win after three losses in Group C.
Nepal’s fans erupted with joy at the Wankhede Stadium after seeing their team win for the first time in the tournament since 2014.
“I want to thank the fans who came from Nepal and supported us, that gives a lot of motivation to all of us,” said player of the match Airee.
“And in the last World Cup, we didn’t win a single match. So that’s why this win is very important for us.”
It was Nepal’s first victory in the T20 World Cup since they beat Hong Kong and Afghanistan in the opening stage 12 years ago.
Nepal had given England a mighty scare in their opener before losing by four runs and then went down in the next two games.
Put in to bat, Scotland posted 170-7 after a 45-ball 71 by opener Michael Jones.
Nepal pace bowler Sompal Kami stood out with figures of 3-25.
Nepal started strongly with Kushal Bhurtel scoring 45 as he put on 74 runs with fellow opener Aasif Sheikh, who made 33.
Spinner Michael Leask picked up three quick wickets as Scotland fought back but Airee led Nepal over the line for a memorable win.
Nepal sign off at T20 World Cup with win over Scotland
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Nepal sign off at T20 World Cup with win over Scotland
- Nepal’s fans erupted with joy at the Wankhede Stadium after seeing their team win
- “I want to thank the fans who came from Nepal and supported us, that gives a lot of motivation to all of us,” said player of the match Airee
Auger-Aliassime, Medvedev march on in Dubai
- Auger-Aliassime overcame the big-serving Frenchman thanks to an impressive break-point conversion rate
- In a battle of former Grand Slam winners, Russia’s Medvedev beat Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3
DUBAI: Felix Auger-Aliassime stamped his ticket to the quarter-finals of the Dubai Open on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, while Daniil Medvedev put an end to Stan Wawrinka’s tournament.
Canadian top seed Auger-Aliassime overcame the big-serving Frenchman thanks to an impressive break-point conversion rate as he managed to make the most of three of the five that he forced on Mpetshi Perricard’s serve.
Consecutive breaks in the seventh and ninth games of the opening set allowed the world number eight to seize the initiative.
Auger-Aliassime pounced again early in the second set to get his nose in front and then managed to serve out to book a meeting with Jiri Lehecka in the last eight.
The Czech eliminated Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 to progress through the round of 16.
In a battle of former Grand Slam winners, Russia’s Medvedev beat Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3.
The 40-year-old Swiss will retire at the end of the season and was honored on-court after his defeat.
“It’s my last time here, but I always had amazing support from you guys,” 2016 champion Wawrinka told the crowd.
“It’s always special. The reason why I kept playing for so long is because of those emotions that I receive on court, but I think at 40 it’s time to play for one last year. I’m enjoying it a lot.”
Third seed Medvedev will face Jenson Brooksby in the next round, after the American defeated seventh-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov in straight sets.
Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan was beaten by Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) as the second seed fell to just his fourth defeat of the season.
World number 25 Griekspoor will next face Jakub Mensik after the Czech sixth seed eased past Alexei Popyrin for the loss of just five games.
Doha semifinalist Andrey Rublev continued a fine Middle East swing by battling through 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 against France’s Ugo Humbert.
Later on Wednesday, the 18th-ranked Russian will discover his last-eight opponent when fourth seed Jack Draper meets Arthur Rinderknech.
