Twelve years and 4,352 days of heartbreak came to a glorious end as Nepal dominated Scotland by seven wickets in T20 World Cup 2026’s thrilling encounter at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The last time Nepal tasted victory in the tournament was a nine-wicket demolition of Afghanistan back in 2014—a gap now etched in cricket folklore as the longest between two World Cup wins.
Scotland’s innings unraveled against Nepal’s sharp attack. Electing to bat, they managed 170/7, powered by Michael Jones’ explosive 71 (45 balls, 8×4, 3×6). Munsey (27) and McMullen (25) offered resistance, but Sompal Kami’s 3/25 and Nandan Yadav’s 2-fer dismantled their middle order. Paudel and Bhurtel grabbed crucial breakthroughs.
Nepal’s chase was a masterclass in composure. Openers Bhurtel (43) and Sheikh (33) raced to 74 in the powerplay. Despite slipping to 98/3, Gulshan Jha and Dipendra Singh’s unbroken 73-run stand off just 36 balls sealed a comfortable win with 4 balls to spare. Michael Leask picked up three wickets for Scotland, but it wasn’t enough.
With only three World Cup wins from 10 games—two from 2014—Nepal now leapfrogs Ireland’s previous record drought of 2,770 days. Zimbabwe (2,412) and Netherlands (2,408) trail in this unwanted list.
This isn’t just a win; it’s redemption. Nepal’s passionate supporters see it as validation of their rapid rise, blending grit, skill, and unyielding spirit against top competition.