Scotland vs Nepal, 33rd Match, Group C, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

A first T20 World Cup win in 12 years for an impressive Nepal unit who have been buoyed by their loud supporters. They turned every game of Nepal's into a festival and carnival, adding a lot of color and flavor to the proceedings. Scotland on the other hand, head home like Nepal, but they were a late replacement for Bangladesh and would've been caught cold by the timing of their call-up. So that's another triple-header done. We will have one more. So more cricket on the way and we will be there nice and early to bring it all to you. Do join us for those games. For now it's time to escape from Cricbuzz Towers. Tata and bye bye.

Rohit Paudel | Nepal captain: I think this means a lot to me, especially this is my second World Cup as captain and winning my first game in the last league stage. So I think this win was very important to us, not only me, but us as a team. And the way Dipendra Airee played, I think that was incredible. (on what the win means for their fans) I think for them also, this win was very important because they saw our game against England. The crowd was already here and then they started booking tickets and they again came here. And the way we wanted to play, we didn't execute our plan, but still they stayed here and supported us till the last game. So I think this game, this win was very important to them also. And you can imagine when we play in home, the crowd, and now we are playing away, but still the way they have been come here, come here in Wankhede and supported us, that has been great. (on the last 5-6 overs with the ball) I think that was very important, especially the way they got the start in the powerplay and then in the middle overs. So I think to slow down and restrict them in 170, I think that our death bowling was great. And the communication was very simple that we'll try to restrict as less boundaries because we were trying to focus more on dot balls rather than taking wickets. So that was the key point in the death overs. (on not having a wobble in the chase) Yeah, especially this is not the way we wanted to play, but it happens naturally. And we knew that when Dipi dai and Gulshan were there in the middle, that they'll finish the game for us, especially both were set. Dipi dai was batting really well. And I think the way he played in this tournament, I think he deserved this, today's man of the match. And he has great talent. (close game against England helped?) I think that has helped a lot, especially we knew when pressure situations comes in, to keep our nerves calm because that is very important in the last stages because at the same time, both bowlers and batsmen, both are in pressure. And if you stay calm, and I think when bowler misses, he has also a lot of pressure. So I think we have learned a lot from that game. And the way Dipi dai and Gulshan executed in the last death overs, that was incredible. (summarise the tournament) To summarise this tournament, I think we didn't.... We wanted to play the way we played against England and today Scotland. The game against Italy and West Indies was not to our expectation, the way we wanted to play. But eventually, if you see whole tournament, I think pretty much happy, but we wanted to qualify for the Super 8. But still, I think great learning for all of us and we'll try to improve from here."

Richie Berrington | Scotland captain: "Yeah, look, the atmosphere was incredible. I think we always knew it was going to be a tough game against Nepal, especially defending it against them, the way they were going about things. Obviously, they had a huge crowd behind them tonight as well. So yeah, look, it's obviously disappointing to be on the wrong end of that result, but a lot of credit has to go to Dipendra Singh Airee, the way he's come out and played, you know, he's changed the whole tempo of the game and, you know, fair play to him getting man of the match today. (did you think the score was enough?) Yeah, I think 170 was a competitive score. I thought they bowled extremely well towards the back-end of that innings. We probably did leave a few out there. But again, we knew, especially after the performance with the ball against England, if we could bring that again tonight, we knew we could maybe create some pressure and make it difficult for them. But as I said, it took one innings there just to change that game and get that result for Nepal. (not playing well for the whole game) Yeah, definitely. I think, you know, obviously really pleased with some of the performances we've put in. I think we've shown once again that we can compete at this level. But there's certainly some frustration there because we've got ourselves in really strong positions in three of those games, giving ourselves.... Had we gone a bit deeper in the game and just won a few more of those key moments. I really think we could have won a few more of those games. So maybe that is just a lack of game time coming into the tournament. But there's definitely a lot that we can take forward as a team to take forward. (are you happy with your showing in the tournament?) Yeah, look, I think obviously our preparation coming in was very different to some of the other teams, but, you know, I said at the very start, we embraced that as a team, and when we got here, we never sort of looked back. We just saw it as another great opportunity for us to show what we can do on the world stage. Obviously, we'd have liked a few more wins and to progress through this tournament, but certainly pleased with some of the performances that we have managed to put in. (how do you see things developing for the Associate nations in 20 years' time?) Yeah, look, I think we've seen once again, I think it's been great that this has been a 20-team World Cup. I think we've seen the benefits of that again, some of the performances Associate teams have put in. And again, it just goes to show if we get more exposure to this kind of cricket, I think all these teams are only going to get stronger. So I think that's definitely, definitely the key for us. But obviously at the moment, we have to keep doing everything we can to improve and just take every opportunity that's in front of us."

Dipendra Singh Airee | Player of the Match (translated from Nepalese by Rohit Paudel): "First of all, I want to thank the fans who came from Nepal and supported us. That gives a lot of motivation to all of us. And in the last World Cup, we didn't win a single match. So that's why this win is very important for us. (is this one of your best days in your career?) Yeah, I think maybe it's one of the best innings for him, especially while chasing 23-ball 50 is very good for him. (experience against England helped?) This kind of chase always gives motivation to the group. And the last game against England has given us a few learning experience. So I think this win is very important for us. So thank you god. (only two dot balls in your innings, was that key?) So usually he tries to rotate the strike. He does not want to play a lot of dot balls. So I think his main reason, key reason is rotating the strike and hitting balls."

Most days between two World Cup wins
4352 Nepal (2014-26)
2770 Ireland (2014-21)
2412 Zimbabwe (2016-22)
2408 Netherlands (2016-22)

Dipendra Singh Airee in T20 WC 2026
44(29) & 2/23(2) vs Eng
17(18) & 0/24(3.4) vs Italy
58(47) & 0/19(3.2) vs WI
50*(23) & 0/23(3) vs Sco

Highest target successfully chased in last five (16-20) overs by Associates in T20 WCs
63 UAE vs Can Delhi 2026 (Tar 195)
59 Nepal vs Sco Wankhede 2026 (Tar 171)
54 Oman vs Ire Dharamshala 2016 (Tar 155)

Highest successful chase by an Associate team in T20 World Cups
195 USA vs Can Dallas 2024
190 Net vs Ire Sylhet 2014
171 Nepal vs Sco Wankhede 2026 *

Only the third win in ten T20 World Cup appearances for Nepal. Sompal Kami is the only player to feature in all three wins (figures in brackets).
80 runs vs HK Chattogram 2014 (2/13)
Nine runs vs Afg Chattogram 2014 (2/32)
Seven wickets vs Sco Wankhede 2026 (3/25)

Fastest 50 for an Associate team in T20 World Cups (by balls)
17 Stephan Myburg vs Ire Sylhet 2014
22 Aaron Jones vs Can Dallas 2024
22 Ben Manenti vs Eng Kolkata 2026
23 Sanjay Krishnamurthi vs Nam Chennai 2026
23 Dipendra Singh Airee vs Sco Wankhede 2026 *

22:23 Local Time, 16:53 GMT, 22:23 IST: 17th February 2026! This will be a date that will go down in the annals of Nepalese cricketing history. They will never forget this date. Never ever! Nepal threatened to do it so many times before, like against South Africa in the last T20 World Cup and in this tournament against England but it finally came to fruition tonight in front of their adoring, loving Nepalese supporters. They might not have made it beyond the group stage but this night will linger and last long in the memory of their fans. Everyone who supported them throughout have been made happy tonight. I can spot the entire Nepal team walk around the Wankhede thanking the crowd for their support. Unreal scenes. Unreal when you consider this is a non-India game. Coming to the chase the partnership between Gulsan Jha and Dipendra Singh Airee took the game away from Scotland. Earlier, the openers set the platform with a quick powerplay but Leask came on and turned the game on its head with three quick wickets. At one stage 70 were needed off 35 balls. That's when Airee flicked a switch and sixes came off his bat. The momentum swung Nepal's way and it never stopped as they rode on the frenzied support from their supporters to garner a famous, famous win. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff....

Have Nepal won it? Munsey is down on the wide long-on fence. He looks hurt. But was the leg touching the cushions when he pushed the ball back? It's four and Nepal have won!

5 off the last over. It will be Wheal. A chat between Munsey, Wheal and Berrington. Scotland slowing things down. The Nepalese supporters in the stands are tense. They are expectant. They are praying. Their head coach, Stuart Law looks calm. Here we go...