Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee cracked half centuries for Nepal as the hosts beat champions Scotland by three wickets to score their second win in a row in the Triangular Series of the ICC World Cup League 2 at the TU ground in Kirtipur on Friday.

Nepal successfully chased their 275-run target with three overs to spare, losing seven wickets after Scotland, invited to bat first, posted 274-9 in the allotted 50-overs. Sompal Kami hit the winning boundary for Nepal who defeated the visitors for the second time among four matches played in league 2.

Nepal had defeated Namibia in their opening match by two wickets and will next play against the same opponent on Saturday. In the earlier match between the two teams, Nepal successfully chased their biggest-ever ODI target when they completed the 287 run chase. The Friday chase against Scotland was Nepal’s second-biggest in ODIs.

Chasing the challenging target, Nepal were off to a shaky start and were struggling at 55-4 by the ninth over. But Malla and Airee not only steadied the innings with a 100 run partnership for the sixth wicket, the duo also created the foundations for Nepal’s victory.

While Malla smashed a 97-ball 81, Airee played an unconquered knock of 85 runs off 116 deliveries. Playing his career best innings and scoring his second half century, Malla smacked nine hits to the boundary along with four towering sixes. Mark Watt had him caught by Hamza Tahir with 177-6 on board. The player-of-the-match, Airee, smashed eight boundaries and a six in his patient knock. He also played his ODI career’s second-best innings after having scored 105 runs last year against Papua New Guinea.

Coming in to bat at number nine, Kami contributed an unbeaten 32-ball 24 that included three hits to the fence.

Earlier, Nepal lost opener Kushal Bhurtel, who had scored a century against Namibia in the first match of the series on Tuesday, on 16 runs, after wicketkeeper Mathew Cross caught him off the bowling of medium pacer Chris Sole on the first delivery of the third over.

Former captain Gyanendra Malla was then dismissed three balls later in a similar fashion, caught behind. The other opener, Aasif Sheikh was the third wicket to fall on nine runs, again off a Sole delivery, caught by Chris Greaves. Captain Paudel was the next batter to depart on six runs as Mark Watt had him caught by Jack Jarvis.

Sundeep Jora was dismissed on five runs. He was trapped leg before by Watt as the home side was tottering at 77-5. But Malla and Airee then revised the script with their resolute batting. Gulsan Jha contributed 17 off 28. He was caught and bowled by Michael Leask.

Sole and Watt were the pick of Scotland bowling, sharing three wickets each. Sole conceded 72 runs in his 10-overs bowling while slow left arm orthodox Watt gave away 43 runs.

Scotland played without their key batters, openers Kyle Coetzer and George Munsey. The duo had shared an unbeaten 157-run stand in their 10-wicket win over Namibia on Wednesday with Munsey scoring 103 runs.

Already crowned champions after their win over Namibia, Scotland handed debuts to Jarvis and Tomas Mackintosh. But they struggled early on and lost wickets at regular intervals and once were tottering at 63-4 in the 17th over.

But Michael Leask, who came in to bat at number seven, single-handedly rescued the innings, playing an unbeaten knock of 107 runs. The 32-year-old Leask, who also scored his career’s first One-Day International (ODI) century, cracked three hits to fence and nine sixes in his 85-ball knock. He reached the century mark facing 79 balls.

ODI debutant Jarvis was the second-best scorer, contributing a 38-ball 26 before he was bowled by Airee. Opener Christopher McBride (22) Brandon McMullen (22), Mark Watt (20), captain Richie Berrington (19), Tomas Mackintosh (19) and Chris Greaves (16) contributed for Scotland.

Leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane was the most successful bowler for Nepal, claiming three wickets in his 10-overs of bowling. He conceded 27 runs. Kushal Malla pocketed two wickets in his nine-over spell. He gave away 49 runs and his spell included a maiden over. Kami, Bhurtel and Airee shared a wicket each.

Scotland snub Lamichhane

Scotland players did not shake hands with Nepal’s former captain and leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane as per the international traditions of the game.

Though the Scottish team shook hands with all other members of the team, they snubbed Lamichhane on moral grounds as the leg spinner is accused of raping a minor and the case is still sub-judice in court. But he is freed on bail. If the crime against him is proven, he will be imprisoned for 10 to 12 years as per the existing legal provisions.

According to Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) sources, Cricket Scotland have already written to Nepal’s cricket governing body that they would not embrace Lamichhane.

Nepali public and cricket fraternity have strongly criticised CAN after he was included in the Nepali squad. Posting remarks on social sites, they even urged Scotland and Namibia teams to boycott the Triangular Series after he was named in the squad.

Two days before CAN announced the Nepal squad, Cricket Scotland had said it was aware of the reports regarding the legal status of Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane, ahead of the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 Qualifiers. "As a governing body, and as a squad, Cricket Scotland stands firmly against all forms of abuse, which have no place in modern society," Cricket Scotland was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo. "The player's availability for these games is a matter for the Cricket Association of Nepal and the ICC to consider."