Hosts Nepal pulled off a sensational two-wicket victory over champions Scotland on the back of a record ninth-wicket partnership, adding to their three consecutive victories in as many matches in the Triangular Series of the ICC World Cup League 2 at the TU ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday.

Captain Rohit Paudel played an instrumental role in Nepal’s victory, scoring an unconquered 95 runs. He also shared an unbeaten 75-run partnership for ninth wicket with Karan KC, who contributed 31 not out.

Inviting the visitors to bat first, Nepal bowled out Scotland for 212 runs in 46.1 overs after leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane shone with the ball, claiming four wickets. In the run chase, Nepal made a shaky start to their run chase and lost wickets at regular intervals and at one stage, were staring at defeat with the scoreboard reading 138-8. But captain Paudel, who came in to bat at number four, held his nerve as Nepal eventually went past the finishing line, scoring 213-8 in 44.1 overs with Paudel smashing the winning boundary.

It is the first occasion when Nepal has won all four matches of the League 2 triangular series among the seven series played so far. They became the second team after Oman to achieve such a feat. Oman had won all four matches of the series at the same venue, defeating both Nepal and USA in February 2020 in the double-header format.

“We were feeling that we could win even after losing five or six wickets,” Nepal captain Paudel said at the post-match conference. “We were able to stitch together a partnership with good understanding after Karan came in and I was hopeful that we could achieve the target,” he added.

Despite missing out on a century by five runs, Paudel said: “Rather than scoring a century, successfully chasing the target and getting 95 was a happy moment.”

The win also ignited Nepal’s hopes of retaining their One-Day International (ODI) status as the top five teams in the seven-team standing are supposed to retain their ODI status which is due to end in July. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not yet given any clear indications for the pathway of ODI status. Nepal now must win six among its eight remaining matches of the League 2 to secure a top-five finish.

They could also earn a top-three finish and secure a place in the World Cup Qualifiers should they win all remaining eight matches and get favourable results from other opponents.

Nepal currently sit sixth with 26 points from 28 matches with two series – eight matches – yet to play. They will fly to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to play their penultimate series of the League 2 from February 27 to March 6 involving UAE and PNG.

Playing in front of a roaring home crowd, Nepal lost early wickets in quick succession as openers Kushal Bhurtel departed on one run and Aasif Sheikh on 12 runs with 19-2 on board. Bhurtel was trapped leg before by Mark Watt in the second over and Sheikh was caught by Kyle Coetzer off Brandon McMullen.

Former captain Gyanendra Malla was the next batter to be dismissed at 21, scoring the runs off 31 deliveries. He was trapped leg before wicket by Watt. Paudel who came to bat at number four did not get the ideal support from the other end as Kushal Malla was out after scoring a 28-ball 17 while Sundeep Jora (1), Dipendra Singh Airee (7), Sompal Kami (2) and Sandeep Lamichhane (9), all departed cheaply.

But Karan KC, coming in to bat at number nine, gave Nepal the much needed stability, playing an unbeaten 37-ball knock of 39. He and captain Paudel also shared an unfinished 75 run ninth-wicket partnership, eclipsing Nepal’s previous best ODI partnership for the wicket.

Scotland’s slow left-arm orthodox Watt was the pick of bowling, claiming three wickets in his 10-over spell. He conceded 29 runs and bowled a maiden over. Chris Greaves picked up two wickets in his 10 overs of bowling, giving away 61 runs.

Earlier, sent in to bat first, the visiting side seemed to have made a sound start before leg spinner Lamichhane accounted for two batters in a row with 89-3 on board. While he trapped opener Kyle Coetzer leg before on 22 runs off 23 balls in the eighth over, Lamichhane also removed the other opener George Munsey on 60 runs, the highest scorer of the innings. He bowled Munsey on the fifth delivery of the 14th over and trapped captain Richie Berrington for a duck off the following ball.

Munsey slammed nine hits to the boundary as well as two sixes in his 50-ball knock. Wicketkeeper batter Matthew Cross was the next best scorer, hitting a 63-ball 42. Other notable scorers for Scotland were Brandon McMullen who scored a 48-ball 31 and Christopher McBride who chipped in with a 30-ball 22.

Lammichane, accused of raping a minor and freed on bail, was the pick of Nepali bowling attack, claiming four wickets. He conceded 45 runs in his 10 overs. Karan KC took three wickets in his 8.1 overs, giving away 42 runs. Lalit Rajbanshi and Kushal Malla shared a wicket each.