Scotland have posted a formidable target of 194 runs for Nepal in the final and title-deciding match of the T20I tri-series being held at the Titwood Cricket Ground in Glasgow.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, the Scots capitalised on a second-wicket partnership of 100 runs between George Munsey and Brandon McMullen to reach 193-5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Munsey smashed 78 off 39 balls, hitting five fours and six sixes in a blistering display, while McMullen added 42 from 30 deliveries with four boundaries and a six. Their stand came after makeshift opener Mark Watt was bowled by Nepal’s Rupesh Singh for just nine runs.

Skipper Richie Berrington (9), Finlay McCreath (1), and Matthew Cross (17 off 13) fell cheaply, but Michael Leask’s unbeaten 26 off 17- including one four and two sixes- added late momentum to the innings.

The match is a virtual final, with all three teams—Nepal, Scotland, and the Netherlands—registering two wins apiece so far. However, Nepal holds a superior net run rate compared to the Dutch, who have completed their fixtures.

Scotland will leapfrog both rivals if they win Friday’s match, finishing with four points and clinching the tri-series title.

Nepal, coached by Stuart Law, have shown resilience throughout the tournament. After losing a dramatic triple Super Over clash against the Netherlands on Sunday, they bounced back with a thrilling two-wicket win over Scotland on Tuesday and followed it up with a six-wicket victory against the Dutch on Thursday.

However, their bowling unit faltered on Friday. Debutant left-arm pacer Rijhan Dhakal, who replaced Karan KC, struggled for rhythm, conceding 35 runs in three overs without taking a wicket. Vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee also had a forgettable outing, leaking 50 runs from four overs with no wickets.

Kushal Bhurtel was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 2 wickets for 20 runs in 2 overs, while Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Rupesh Singh chipped in with a wicket each.

To win the tri-series, Nepal now need to pull off a record chase under pressure. A victory would also avenge their heart-breaking loss to Scotland in last week’s CWC League 2 encounter and reaffirm their status as a rising power in associate cricket.