Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal: For a stadium packed with thousands of roaring fans at the Tribhuvan University Ground, the match wasn't just another fixture on the cricket calendar—it was pure redemption. Nepal delivered a flawless, masterclass performance, crushing the United States by nine wickets in their ICC World Cup Cricket League-2 clash. The victory tasted sweet for the hosts, who had suffered four consecutive defeats against the Americans in recent matchups. This time, however, Nepal flipped the script entirely, chasing down a 196-run target with an effortless ease that left the home crowd in raptures.
The hero of the day was opener Kushal Bhurtel, whose comeback to the side felt like something straight out of a movie script. Having missed the last three games, Bhurtel played with the hunger of a man with something to prove. He anchored the chase with a breathtaking, unbeaten 120 off 118 balls, punishing the US bowling attack with 13 boundaries and four massive sixes. Alongside him, Aasif Sheikh played the perfect supporting role, scoring a steady 58. Together, they stitched together a massive 154-run opening partnership that effectively broke the spirit of the American side long before debutant Ishan Pandey (20 not out) walked out to hit the winning runs with 80 balls to spare.
Earlier in the afternoon, it looked like Nepal would be in for a long, grueling day. The USA, despite missing their regular captain Monank Patel to injury, won the toss and looked completely in control. Opener Smit Patel (84) and Shehan Jayasuriya (52) put on a clinic, building a 100-run partnership that had the visitors cruising comfortably at 122 for the loss of just one wicket. The atmosphere in Kirtipur grew tense as a massive target seemed inevitable.
But cricket is a game of shifting momentums, and Nepal’s bowlers triggered a spectacular collapse that turned the stadium into a carnival. Led by a magical spell from Dipendra Singh Airee, who ripped through the lineup to take four wickets, Nepal choked the American batters completely. Sompal Kami picked up two, while Sandeep Lamichhane and Gulshan Jha joined the party with a wicket each. In the blink of an eye, the USA lost their final nine wickets for just 73 runs, getting bundled out for 195.
While the emphatic win keeps Nepal in seventh place on the League-2 table with 20 points, the numbers don't quite tell the whole story. They are now breathing down the necks of Canada (21 points) and Namibia (22 points), injecting a massive burst of life into their campaign to finish in the top four and protect their ODI status. More than the tournament points, though, this victory restored belief—both for the team and the thousands of fans who walked out of the stadium with their flags flying high.
