MUMBAI, Feb 17: With elimination already confirmed, Nepal will step onto the field on Tuesday with one clear objective — to salvage pride and sign off the ICC T20 World Cup campaign with a victory against Scotland.
Nepal, winless in Group A after three matches, faces familiar rival Scotland at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from 7:15 PM. While Scotland will be playing at Wankhede for the first time, Nepal has already played all three of its matches at the venue — a familiarity that could offer a slight edge.
Despite that advantage, Nepal has endured a difficult tournament, registering defeats against England, Italy and West Indies. Scotland, by contrast, has managed one win — a dominant 73-run victory over Italy — though it too has been eliminated from the tournament. West Indies and England have progressed to the Super Eight, leaving Nepal, Scotland and Italy out of contention.
Scotland’s batting has looked comparatively settled. The Scots crossed the 200-run mark against Italy and posted competitive totals of 155 against England and 147 against West Indies — all at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Tuesday’s match will test their adaptability on a new surface.
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Although the two associate nations are well acquainted in limited-overs cricket, this will be their first-ever meeting on the World Cup stage. Across formats, they have faced each other 11 times, with Scotland winning six and Nepal five. Their most recent encounter came in a tri-nation T20 series last June, where both teams claimed one win apiece.
The Wankhede pitch is expected to play slow in the evening, potentially assisting spinners and making stroke-making challenging. Nepal’s top order has struggled, particularly against Italy and West Indies, where early wickets derailed innings momentum. A stronger start will be crucial if Nepal hopes to compete effectively.
Batting consultant Nick Pothas believes prior exposure to Scotland will help Nepal prepare better.
“The series in June helped us understand Scotland’s players. They are a capable side, but we want to execute our plans properly and push for a win,” he said at the pre-match press conference.
Pothas admitted Nepal’s plans have not translated into performance. “We have not executed our strategies well in the last two matches. Losing wickets in the powerplay shows that. At this level, execution is everything,” he added.
For Scotland, captain Richie Berrington, opener George Munsey, Michael Jones and Tom Bruce form the backbone of the batting lineup. With the ball, Michael Leask, Brad Currie and Mark Watt have been key contributors.
Bruce emphasized Scotland’s intent to end on a high. “Nepal is a competitive team and will have strong support. But we are ready and want to finish the tournament with a win,” he said.
For Nepal, much will depend on the top order. Openers Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel must provide stability after early dismissals in recent matches. Dipendra Singh Airee, who struck a half-century against the West Indies, remains Nepal’s brightest batting spark in the tournament, while Sompal Kami will look to make early breakthroughs.
Premier leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has yet to stamp his authority on the tournament but will aim to deliver in the final outing.
With pride at stake, coach Stuart Law is unlikely to experiment heavily, though Sher Malla — who debuted in this World Cup — could retain his place.
For Nepal, Tuesday is less about qualification and more about character — an opportunity to show resilience before turning the page.
