A century partnership between Ishan Pandey and captain Rohit Paudel guided Nepal to a six-wicket victory over Scotland in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Monday.

Nepal chased down 195 in 38.1 overs, reaching 195-4 after Pandey and Paudel added 104 runs for the third wicket.

The victory was Nepal’s third win over Scotland in four League 2 meetings and lifted them from seventh to fifth in the standings with 22 points from 27 matches. Scotland remain top with 38 points from 31 games. The top four teams from the eight-team competition qualify directly for the World Cup Qualifier.

Nepal had beaten the United States national cricket team by nine wickets on Saturday. They will face the US again on Friday in their final home match of the League 2 cycle before travelling to the Netherlands and Oman for two more series later this year.

Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh gave Nepal an aggressive start before Aasif was run out in the seventh over with the score at 58. He made 29 off 17 balls with three fours and two sixes. In the next over, Brandon McMullen trapped Bhurtel lbw for 28 off 27 deliveries.

Playing only his second ODI, Pandey, with Paudel, steered Nepal towards victory. He scored 55 off 61 balls with five fours and two sixes before being caught and bowled by Mark Watt. Watt also dismissed Dipendra Singh Airee for two.

Paudel remained unbeaten on 74 off 98 balls, striking five fours and two sixes, and sealed the win with a six off Michael Leask. Aarif Sheikh was unbeaten on eight.

Earlier, Scotland were bowled out for 194 in 39.1 overs after opting to bat first. Spinners Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane led Nepal’s attack with four and three wickets respectively.

Left-arm spinner Rajbanshi conceded 32 off 8, while leg-spinner Lamichhane took 3-47 in 10 overs.

McMullen threatened to take Scotland to a commanding total with a rapid 73 off 44 balls, hitting six fours and six sixes. He struck Lamichhane for a six and a four in the 20th over before being caught by Pandey at long-off on the next delivery.

The wicket was Lamichhane’s 150th in ODIs, making him the fastest player to reach the milestone. He achieved the feat in 73 matches, surpassing the previous record held by Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who reached 150 wickets in 77 games.

Airee dismissed Finlay McCreath lbw for six, while Lamichhane bowled George Munsey for 21.

Rajbanshi bowled Scotland captain Richie Berrington for 12 to claim his first wicket after four matches. Lamichhane also bowled Matthew Cross for one.

Michael Inglis and Watt shared a 45-run stand for the sixth wicket before Watt was caught behind off Sompal Kami for 20. Rajbanshi later dismissed Leask lbw for one and bowled Oliver Davidson for a duck. Debutant Ollie Jones became Rajbanshi’s fourth wicket after scoring two.

Inglis was the last batter out after scoring 51 off 72 balls with four fours and a six. He was caught by Kami at deep square leg off Nandan Yadav.