Full Breakdown
Nepal vs USA: Final Home Match in ICC World Cup League-2
5/22/2026, 11:53:04 PM
Match Overview
On Friday at 9:30 a.m. Nepal hosted the United States of America at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur for the concluding home fixture of the ICC World Cup League-2 (2023–2027) series. The encounter is pivotal: Nepal, sitting fifth, needs a win to stay in contention for the 2027 One-Day International (ODI) World Cup qualifiers and to preserve its ODI status, while the USA, leading the table, seeks to reinforce its position after a recent defeat.
Series Background & Stakes
League-2 consists of 27 matches per side; the top four at cycle’s end qualify directly for the 2027 ODI World Cup, the rest face a playoff. The USA leads with 38 points and 18-19 wins, while Nepal sits fifth with 22 points from 10 wins. Nepal’s home series includes three games – two wins and a two-run loss to Scotland – and the USA comes in after a six-wicket win over Scotland, seeking to rebound from its latest defeat.
Recent Form
Both teams entered after six-wicket wins over Scotland. In the USA’s May 20 match, they dismissed Scotland for 169, with Saurabh Netravalkar 3/19, and chased in 28 overs, aided by 37 runs each from Smit Patel and Shayan Jahangir. Nepal’s May 18 win featured Lalit Rajbanshi’s four wickets, Sandeep Lamichhane’s three, and captain Rohit Paudel’s unbeaten 74 in a 39-over chase. Their last meeting at the same ground on May 16 saw Nepal win by nine wickets, driven by Kushal Bhurtel’s unbeaten 120 and a 145-run opening stand with Asif Sheikh.
Key Players
- Kushal Bhurtel (Nepal) – Opener, most dangerous batsman, unbeaten 120 vs USA on May 16.
- Asif Sheikh (Nepal) – Partner in 145-run opening stand with Bhurtel.
- Rohit Paudel (Nepal) – Captain, unbeaten 74 in win over Scotland.
- Saurabh Netravalkar (USA) – Left-arm fast bowler, third-highest wicket-taker (40 wickets), 3/19 vs Scotland.
- Lalit Rajbanshi (Nepal) – Spinner, four wickets in win over Scotland.
Statistical Snapshot
USA: 19 wins, 38 points (source 1) versus 18 wins (source 2); 27 matches played.
Nepal: 10 wins, 22 points; 27 matches played; fifth-place standing.
Head-to-head in the league: USA leads 6–5, with one no-result.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The two sources differ on the USA’s win total—one records 19 victories, the other 18—while both agree on the total matches played (27). No official statements from the Nepal Cricket Association or USA Cricket are provided, leaving the teams’ strategic outlooks undocumented.
What’s Next
The result will decide whether Nepal can remain within reach of the top-four qualification zone or be forced into the playoff pathway, while the USA will aim to solidify its league lead and improve its net-run rate ahead of the final round of fixtures.
