Nepal wrote a new chapter in their cricketing history 11 days ago when they qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup, making it the Rhinos' first consecutive World Cup. Further, they were unbeaten in the Asia & EAP Qualifier in eight matches, of which two matches were warm-ups.

However, they are stumbling on the road to securing their maiden berth at the ODI World Cup. Starting the fifth of the nine tri-series in the four-year League 2 cycle (2024-27) against the USA at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE, the hosts of the tri-series, on Sunday, Nepal suffered a heavy defeat as the USA won by 106 runs.

Winning the toss, Nepal's skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel chose to field first, and the decision did not backfire as they restricted the USA to 262/6 in 50 overs. Opener Smit Patel alongside Saiteja Mukkamalla and Milind Kumar from the middle-order helped the USA to a decent total as they contributed 75 off 100, 42 off 58 and 70 off 50, respectively. Meanwhile, of the seven USA batsmen who entered the field, none had individual scores in single digit.

Sandeep Lamichhane bagged two wickets, while Sompal Kami, Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh picked one each. Patel departed after a run out.

In turn, Nepal were not good with the bat. Requiring a run rate of 5.26 at the beginning, Nepal were running at a run rate of around four runs per over by the time Aarif Sheikh departed as the fifth wicket in 26.1 overs with the team's score at 105 runs.

Before Aarif, Kushal Bhurtel (0 off 2), Bhim Sharki (29 off 50), Aasif Sheikh (37 off 39) and captain Paudel (2 off 19) had already returned to the pavilion. Dipendra Singh Airee played a decent inning, scoring 40 off 60, but the next five batters could only add 16 more runs altogether. As a result, Nepal were bundled out at 156 runs in 39.1 overs.

Harmeet Singh, who previously represented India in the national U19 side and has played for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, was the headache for Nepal, as the current USA spinner bagged six wickets alone. Singh, who played for Sudurpaschim Royals in the Nepal Premier League's inaugural season last year, became the first player to bag six wickets against Nepal.

Similarly, Shubham Ranjane took two and Rushil Ugarkar claimed one wicket. Both Ranjane and Ugarkar made their ODI debut for the USA on Sunday.

ODI struggle for Nepal

Nepal now have 10 losses in 17 matches of the League 2 alongside five wins and two matches that ended without a result. The USA, with a suspended cricket board, are at the top of the points table as the win propelled them over Scotland in net run rate. The USA and Scotland have 30 points each, but the USA have played three games fewer than the Scots.

Further, it was the third straight defeat for Nepal against the USA, who had won twice against the Rhinos in the League 2 tri-series when they hosted it in Dallas last year. Sunday’s win was the seventh largest victory for the USA in ODIs.

If we look at Nepal's T20I stats since their first in the 2014 T20 World Cup, the Rhinos have played 112 matches in the shortest format, having won 65 games and losing 41 times. Three matches each have ended in a tie and no-result.

On the other hand, since gaining the ODI status in 2018, Nepal have played 78 one-day games. They have won 38 times in the 50-over format with one draw and two ending without a result. Meanwhile, the loss on Sunday was their 37th.

Nepal have never lost to the USA in T20Is. In three encounters in the 20-over format in 2024, Nepal won twice while one ended in a draw. But in ODIs, they have played against each other 10 times, of which one was a tie. Besides that, Nepal have now lost five times against the Americans; the Rhinos have four wins, a number that has remained stagnant since 2024.

Nepal will now face the UAE, the team at the bottom of the League 2 with six points from 16 matches, on October 28 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.