In a see-saw contest, Nepal on Sunday lost to Scotland by 2 runs in their third game of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series at Forthill Cricket Ground in Dundee, Scotland.

Chasing 324 runs, Nepal mounted a valiant fightback despite early setbacks but were eventually bundled out for 321. The match boiled down to the final over with the Rhinos needing 7 runs. Karan KC, the star of Nepal’s thrilling win against the same side last week, was on the crease, and it was yet another chance for him to finish the game. But he was caught out in the third ball while attempting a big shot, with the team needing five runs off the last three balls. Nepal’s hopes now hinged on two tailenders—Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane—but they struggled to respond to Safyaan Sharif’s sharp bowling attack. Nepal needed three runs off the last ball but Sharif bowled Rajbanshi out, capping off a nerve-wracking final over and a staggering contest overall.

Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Scotland put together a huge total of 323 runs, on the back of a masterful century from skipper Richie Berrington and a late onslaught from Michael Leask and Mark Watt.

Berrington struck his sixth ODI hundred, scoring 102 off 114 deliveries, including six fours and four sixes. He narrowly escaped being trapped leg-before on the first ball he faced and was eventually run out while attempting a third run with Leask.

Player-of-the-match Leask played a devastating unbeaten knock of 96 off 62 balls, smashing 12 fours and three sixes. Mark Watt added a late flourish, hitting three consecutive sixes in the final over to finish on 21 not out off just 9 balls. Scotland added a remarkable 67 runs in the last five overs.

Earlier, Karan KC gave Nepal a dream start, dismissing George Munsey for a duck and removing Brandon McMullen (5) within the first six overs. Berrington then stitched a 94-run partnership with opener Charlie Tear for the third wicket. Tear scored 68 off 65 balls—his second consecutive half-century against Nepal in this series—before being bowled by Lalit Rajbanshi.

Dipendra Singh Airee made a vital impact in the middle overs, first dismissing Finlay McCreath for 17 with a sharp caught-and-bowled, then removing Matthew Cross (17) soon after to tighten Nepal’s grip. But Berrington and Leask responded with a match-shifting 125-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Nepal’s bowlers struggled at the death overs. Karan KC conceded 74 runs in 9 overs despite his early breakthroughs, while Sompal Kami leaked 75 from his 9 overs. Sandeep Lamichhane gave away 69 from his full quota. Airee returned 2 for 37 from 7 overs, while Rajbanshi took 1 for 41 from 10.

In response, Nepal faced early blows as they lost openers Kushal Bhurtel (17 runs off 20 balls) in 3.6 overs and Aasif Sheikh (8 off 8) in 4.4 overs. Skipper Rohit Paudel soon followed them in 7.1 overs, departing cheaply. In-at-three Bhim Sharki played a patient innings, scoring 73 off 85 that included eight boundaries. Aarif Sheikh, who played a match-winning 78 against the Netherlands last week, contributed 39 off 55. Dipendra Singh Airee (56 off 51) and Sompal Kami (67 off 44) did much to rescue the innings, putting together a 100-run partnership for the seventh wicket, but their efforts proved insufficient in the end.

Nepal went into the match unchanged after winning their first two games of the series—chasing a record 297 against Scotland and beating the Netherlands by five wickets. Scotland handed debut to wicketkeeper-batter Mackenzie Jones and recalled pacer Charlie Peet, who previously impressed on debut at the same venue with a 7-wicket haul.

Nepal will conclude their League 2 campaign on Tuesday with a rematch against the Netherlands.