Airee’s 23-Ball Blitz Ends Nepal’s 12-Year Wait in Mumbai Thriller

Nepal ended a 12-year wait for a T20 World Cup victory with a heart-stopping seven-wicket win over Scotland at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, sealed by Dipendra Singh Airee’s breathtaking unbeaten half-century.

Chasing 171, Nepal’s campaign — already marked by narrow defeats — found a fitting crescendo as Airee smashed 50 not out from just 23 balls to overhaul Scotland’s 170 for 7 with controlled aggression and fearless intent. His innings, featuring four fours and three sixes, turned a tense equation of 71 required from 36 balls into a celebration of belief and composure.

Earlier, Scotland had appeared poised for a bigger total. Michael Jones led the charge with a fluent 71 as Scotland raced to 131 for 1 after 15 overs. But Nepal struck back dramatically. Veteran seamer Sompal Kami, the lone survivor from Nepal’s 2014 World Cup squad, sparked a collapse with three wickets, including a perfectly disguised knuckleball to bowl Jones and a stunning one-handed return catch to dismiss Brandon McMullen. Scotland lost six wickets for 30 runs, stalling their momentum at a crucial stage.

Nepal’s reply began confidently, with Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh powering them to 56 without loss in the powerplay. However, Scotland’s Michael Leask dragged the contest back with a three-wicket burst, reducing Nepal to 98 for 3 and silencing a largely Nepal-supporting crowd.

That silence did not last.

Airee, supported calmly by Gulsan Jha, counterattacked with clean hitting and sharp running, dismantling Scotland’s bowling in the final overs. A 20-run over off Leask proved decisive, and when Jha struck the winning runs, the stands erupted.

For Nepal, long branded the “Cardiac Kids,” this was another classic — and finally, a reward.