A year ago, Nepal were at the bottom of the ICC CWC League-2 (2024-2026) cycle among eight teams. On Tuesday, the Rhinos climbed to the fifth position after defeating Scotland by six wickets at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Kathmandu.

The hosts defeated the visitors to add two crucial points to their tally. They now have 22 points from 27 games. The Rhinos bested Namibia, who also have 22 points from 28 matches, in net run rate.

With one more match remaining—against the USA on Friday—Nepal have the chance to go two points ahead of Namibia and gain extra momentum in their race to the top four.

Further, Nepal will be accompanied by Namibia as the two travel to the Netherlands for their League-2 tri-series in July. Nepal, Namibia and the Netherlands were the three teams to feature in the first tri-series of the ongoing League-2 cycle at TU Ground in February 2024.

The Netherlands are six points ahead of Nepal and are in fourth place.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands are four matches behind Nepal. But the Dutch side will be welcoming Nepal after having played four more fixtures in Canada, where they will be accompanied by the USA, next month.

“Firstly, we want to win the upcoming match [against the USA] and the remaining ones in League-2,” Sandeep Lamichhane said in the post-match press conference after the win over Scotland. “We want to finish in the top four and enter the World Cup Qualifier directly.”

Lamichhane was the main focus in Tuesday’s match for a brilliant performance with the ball, followed by a world record.

With a three-wicket haul against Scotland, Lamichhane became the fastest player to reach 150 ODI wickets. He now has 151 wickets in 73 matches (71 innings). Lamichhane was also the fastest to 100 ODI wickets and 100 League-2 wickets.

Lamichhane was at 148 ODI wickets when the match began. He reached 149 after bowling out George Munsey (21 off 31) and then the historic milestone after having the dangerous man, Brandon McMullen, caught out.

McMullen (73 off 44) was on a roll when Lamichhane broke his rhythm. “McMullen has been in great form,” Lamichhane said. “His wicket was extremely important at that moment for us, and it coincided as my 150th wicket. It was cherry on top.”

Lamichhane reached 151 ODI wickets after sending Matthew Cross (1 off 4) back to the pavilion.

Alongside Lamichhane, his spin partner Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi was also crucial with the ball for Nepal.

In his last 10 matches, Rajbanshi had gone wicketless in seven games, while bagging four wickets. But on Tuesday, Rajbanshi took four wickets in the match against Scotland alone.

With the four wickets, Rajbanshi also crossed his 50-wicket milestone in ODIs. He now has 52 wickets in 47 matches.

“It is not always about taking wickets,” Lamichhane said. “Lalit had a bad time in his last couple of fixtures. But he has been fulfilling his responsibility to the fullest.”

Dipendra Singh Airee, Sompal Kami and Nandan Yadav also picked one wicket each as the visitors were bundled out for 194 runs in 39.1 overs.

Lamichhane was also full of praise for Ishan Pandey. Pandey, who was one-ODI-old after debuting against the USA on Saturday, was playing his second one-day international on Tuesday. And he made it memorable.

Pandey, who came in at three, scored his maiden half-century and built a 104-run partnership for the third wicket with skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel.

When Pandey departed at 55 off 61 in 29.5 overs, Nepal required only 32 runs from 121 deliveries.

“Pandey also hit the winning run in the previous match against the USA,” Lamichhane said. “He had the skills but was finding it hard to get a spot in the national team. He is showing why he deserved the opportunity.”

Nepal’s openers—Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh—were showing a promise to repeat what they did against the USA: a 145-run opening partnership. However, they—Bhurtel (28 off 27) and Aasif (29 off 17)—departed early against Scotland.

But Pandey and Paudel got Nepal back in the chase.

Nepal were at 193/4 when Paudel came to face the first ball of the 39th over. And with a six straight down the ground, Paudel ended the chase in style. He remained not out at 74 off 98 with Aarif Sheikh (8 off 23) as Nepal made an important climb in the points table.

After the tri-series in the Netherlands in June, Nepal, with Canada, will travel to Oman for their final League-2 tri-series in October.