Kushal Bhurtel struck a century as Nepal secured a commanding nine-wicket win over the United States of America in the ICC Cricket World Cup League-2 on Saturday.

Chasing 196, Nepal reached 199/1 in 36.4 overs at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, with Bhurtel anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 120, his career best.

Bhurtel’s 118-ball knock featured 13 fours and four sixes. It was his second ODI century, the first coming against Namibia at the same venue in February 2023, when he scored 115.

He built the chase with Aasif Sheikh, as the pair added 145 runs for the opening wicket. It was Nepal’s fourth-highest partnership in ODI cricket and the fourth century stand between the duo.

The stand ended in the 27th over when Sheikh was dismissed for 58 off 72 balls, hitting eight fours. Debutant Ishan Pandey then joined Bhurtel and remained unbeaten on 20 off 30 balls, striking the winning boundary.

The result gave Nepal their first win over the USA in the current 2024–27 League-2 cycle, ending the visitors’ unbeaten run in the head-to-head in this phase. It was also Nepal’s first victory against the Americans since the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, where they won by six wickets.

Nepal remain seventh in the eight-team standings with 20 points from 26 matches. The USA, who arrived in Kathmandu as the table toppers, are now second with 36 points from the same number of games. It is their second straight defeat after losing to Scotland earlier in the week.

Earlier, the USA were bowled out for 195 in 43.3 overs after opting to bat. They looked in control at 122/1 in the 23rd over and 158/3 in the 31st, before collapsing in the final phase of the innings.

Opener Shayan Jahangir fell early for six, but Smit Patel and Shehan Jayasuriya rebuilt with a 100-run stand for the second wicket. Jayasuriya made 50 off 52 balls, with five fours and a six.

Smit, dropped on 14 by Aasif Sheikh off Sompal Kami, went on to score 89 off 89 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes. He was eventually caught brilliantly by Sheikh off Kami. Kami dismissed both Jayasuriya and Patel.

The USA were without regular captain Monank Patel, who sustained a finger injury against Scotland. Stand-in captain Saiteja Mukkamalla was bowled by Sandeep Lamichhane, while substitute fielder Bhim Sharki combined with Sheikh to run out Shubham Ranjane for two.

Sheikh later missed a stumping chance against Milind Kumar on 20. Kumar made 28 off 41 balls, with two fours and two sixes, before falling later in the innings.

Sanjay Krishnamurthi, replacing Patel, was dismissed for one by Gulshan Jha. Dipendra Singh Airee and Sheikh combined to run out Nosthush Kenjige for one, before Airee dismissed Harmeet Singh for 14.

Airee returned figures of 4-24 from 7.3 overs and reached 50 ODI wickets during the spell. Kami took 2-35 from seven overs, while Lamichhane returned 1-41 from 10 overs and Jha 1-28 from four.