Karan KC shone with the ball for Nepal as they registered a six-wicket victory over the United States of America to secure their first victory in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Tuesday.

Inviting US to bat first, Nepal put the opponents under pressure from the very beginning after medium pacer KC claimed four early wickets with 18-4 on board. But wicketkeeper-batter Shayan Jahangir scored an unbeaten century for US before they were bowled out for a respectable total of 207 runs in 49th over.

In the run chase, Bhim Sharki slammed his career best ODI score for Nepal collecting not out 77 runs as they made 211-4 with seven overs to spare.

Nepal, who faced eight-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe in their opening game on Sunday, will vie against West Indies in their third match on Thursday.

The victory lifted Nepal to third with two points in the five-team Group ‘A’ and they would be ensured a spot in the Super Six should they secure top three finish. Zimbabwe, who beat the Netherlands by six wickets in their second game on Tuesday, lead the standings with four points from two games. West Indies are second on two points from one game and are above Nepal due to superior run rate. The US and the Netherlands that are yet to open accounts are fourth and fifth in the table.

Sharki, who came to bat at number three in the run chase and was dropped on nine runs, struck seven hits to boundaries and a six in his knock of 114 balls. He also shared an unbeaten 74-run stand for fifth wicket with Dipendra Singh Airee, who contributed 32-ball 39 including a winning boundary. Sharki also surpassed his previous best ODI score of 70 runs, which came against the United Arab Emirates in ICC World Cup League 2.

Aireel, the joint second highest scorer for Nepal along with opener Kushal Bhurtel, slammed five boundaries and a six. Nepal lost opener Aasif Sheikh on 12 runs after he was trapped LBW by Saurabh Netravalkar with 25 runs on board. His opening partner Bhurtel, who missed century by a run against Zimbabwe, contributed 39 runs off 54 comprising four hits to boundaries and a six. He was caught and bowled by Nosthush Kenjige in 16.2 overs with 74-2 on board.

Captain Rohit Paudel contributed 16 runs off 29 and Kushal Malla played run-a-ball 13 before their departure.

USA bowlers Netravalkar, Kenjige, Nisarga Patel and Steven Taylor clinched a wicket each.

Earlier, medium pacer KC gave an early scare to US removing opener Steven Taylor on four runs, trapping him leg before in the penultimate delivery of the second over. Saiteja Mukkamalla was out for a duck in the following delivery after Aarif Sheikh caught him at slip.

Captain Aaron Jones was dismissed on two runs off 22 deliveries in the fifth ball of the eighth over after KC made him caught at gully by Bhurtel. Nosthush Kenjige, caught on one run by Bhurtel at first slip, became the fourth victim of the player-of-the-match KC.

Gajananda Singh, the unbeaten century scorer in their last game against West Indies on Sunday, tried to revive the innings before he was dismissed on 41-ball 26. All-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee had him caught by Aarif Sheikh at the first slip.

But Jahangir, who came to bat at number seven, staged a fight back for US, slamming an unbeaten 100 runs off 79. He struck 10 hits to the fences and three sixes to score the first ODI century of his career in the ninth game.

Opener Sushan Modani was the second highest scorer for US contributing 42 runs off 71. He was bowled by left arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi, who replaced Sompal Kami in the playing squad after he picked up an injury in the last game against hosts Zimbabwe.

Jessy Singh was the fourth batter for US to score in double digit figures contributing 12 runs as they lost other batters cheaply.

Medium pacer KC came up with a sensational figures with the ball with three maiden overs in his nine-over spell conceding 33 runs. Gulsan Jha grabbed three wickets and Airee pocketed two. Jha gave away 52 runs in his 10-over bowling while Airee conceded 15 runs in his five-over spell.