Needing 236 runs from 36 overs, Nepal lost the match by a whisker as it managed to score 232 for the loss of five wickets. The match was reduced to 36 overs per side due to wet outfield.
Nepal's opening pair of Mahesh Chhetri (21 runs off 39 balls) and Anil Mandal (100 off 93) shared 44 runs for the first wicket at the Cambusdoon New Ground, Ayr, in Scotland.
Anil, who became first Nepali batsman to score century in List A match, added 36 runs with Gyanendra Malla (18 off 24).
Anil and skipper Paras Khadka shared 139 runs for the third wicket, which is the highest partnership of Nepal in this format of cricket.
Anil's quick-fire 100 runs off only 93 balls, and Paras (70 off 55), signaled an improved batting of Nepal in European condition. However, their efforts could not help Nepal materialized after Nepal fell short of only four runs for victory.
Anil, who became the first Nepali batsman to score two centuries in international match, smashed a six and nine boundaries. Earlier, Anil had scored 113 runs against Denmark in Division 4 in 2014.
Likewise, Paras scored third half century in List A matches. Paras had added 77 runs against Canada and 64 runs against Namibia in the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 earlier this year.
Nepali team Coach Pubudu Dassanayaye said it was sad to lose the match. However, he was quite happy that openers added valuable runs.
"We are a different batting side when openers score runs," said Dassanayake, who had said that he wanted to forget the results of ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers before the match.
Nepal needed 25 runs in the last two overs with eight wickets in hand, however skipper Paras, who was on fire hitting two sixes and four fours, was caught by Richie Berrington off Gavin Main in the fourth ball of the 35th over. Sharad Vesawakar was run out on the very next ball. Nepal scored eight runs in the second last over losing two wickets.
Nepal needed 17 runs from last six balls (36th over) as opener Anil was caught by Richie off Alasdair Evan in the first ball.
Pradeep Airee added one and left it to Sompal Kami, who smashed a six and a four to add 11 runs facing only three balls, but that was not enough to win the match.
"Until the last two balls we were on the track," added Dassanayake, who wants to win second match on Friday.
Gavin Main bagged highest two wickets for Scotland, which had earlier scored 235/7 as Preston Mommsen (78 off 62) and Con de Lange (not out 55 off 41) scored half centuries.
Scotland started the innings in impressive manner adding 95 runs despite losing four wickets under 19th over. Opener Kyle Coetzer's 41 runs off 60 balls were crucial to help Scotland build a solid foundation.
Then Preston and Con did the rest to score a big total against Nepal, which had suffered humiliating exit from ICC World Qualifiers that concluded on Sunday in Ireland.
Nepal will play its second match of the championship against Scotland on Friday.
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