Table of Contents
The cricket rivalry between Scotland and Nepal has developed through World Cricket League competitions, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers, Cricket World Cup League 2, T20I cricket and the T20 World Cup. What makes the fixture particularly interesting is how often the teams have produced close finishes, especially in ODI cricket.
Their meetings became increasingly frequent after 2015 as Nepal established itself in the global associate cricket structure and Scotland continued to compete regularly at ICC events. Several matches have been decided by only a few runs or wickets, while their T20 encounters have added another dimension to the rivalry.
By 2026, Scotland and Nepal had already produced a series of memorable results. Nepal recorded a seven-wicket T20 World Cup victory in Mumbai in February 2026, while Scotland responded by winning their May 2026 Cricket World Cup League 2 meeting by two runs.
Scotland vs Nepal Timeline
| Date | Competition | Result | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2015 | ICC World Cricket League Championship | Scotland won by 9 wickets | Scotland chased 111 after bowling Nepal out for 167 |
| March 8, 2018 | ICC World Cup Qualifier | Scotland won by 4 wickets | Scotland chased 150 after Nepal made 149 |
| July 13, 2022 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Scotland won by 4 wickets | Scotland chased 147 after Nepal made 146/5 |
| July 17, 2022 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Nepal won by 5 wickets | Nepal chased 129 after Scotland made 128 |
| December 4, 2022 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Scotland won by 3 wickets | Scotland chased 138 |
| December 8, 2022 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Scotland won by 8 wickets | Scotland chased 120 with only two wickets down |
| February 17, 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Nepal won by 3 wickets | Nepal chased 275 with three wickets remaining |
| February 21, 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Nepal won by 2 wickets | Nepal chased 213 in another close finish |
| October 29, 2024 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Nepal won by 5 wickets | Nepal chased 155 |
| November 4, 2024 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | No result | Match abandoned after Nepal reached 26/1 |
| June 2, 2025 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Nepal won by 1 wicket | Nepal chased 297 with one wicket remaining |
| June 8, 2025 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Scotland won by 2 runs | Scotland defended 323/6 |
| June 17, 2025 | Scotland T20 Tri-Series | Nepal won by 2 wickets | Nepal chased 98 |
| June 20, 2025 | Scotland T20 Tri-Series | Scotland won by 34 runs | Scotland made 193/5 |
| February 17, 2026 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | Nepal won by 7 wickets | Nepal chased 171 with four balls remaining |
| May 12, 2026 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Scotland won by 2 runs | Scotland defended 243/8 |
| May 18, 2026 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Nepal won by 6 wickets | Nepal chased 195 |
The sequence shows how closely matched the sides have been in recent years. The 2025–26 period alone featured victories for both teams across ODI and T20I cricket.
2015: The First Major Meeting
One of the earliest significant international meetings between Scotland and Nepal came on July 31, 2015, in the ICC World Cricket League Championship.
Nepal were bowled out for 167, after which Scotland chased the target with considerable comfort, reaching 111/1 in the recorded match result. The match took place at Cambusdoon New Ground in Ayr, Scotland.
The result established an early pattern: Scotland’s experience in 50-over associate cricket made them a difficult opponent for Nepal.
2018: World Cup Qualifier
The teams met again in the 2018 ICC World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.
Nepal scored 149 all out, while Scotland successfully chased the target, reaching 153/6.
Scotland therefore won by four wickets.
This match was important because the World Cup Qualifier brought both teams together in a competition directly connected to qualification for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
2022: A Two-Match Split
The rivalry became much more active in 2022 through the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2.
July 13, 2022
Scotland made 153/6, while Nepal were dismissed for 146.
Scotland won by four wickets.
July 17, 2022
Four days later, Nepal responded.
Scotland were bowled out for 128, and Nepal chased the target with five wickets in hand.
Nepal won by five wickets.
The two matches therefore produced a split series, with each side demonstrating its ability to adapt quickly to the other.
December 2022: Scotland Takes Control
The teams met twice more in December 2022.
December 4
Scotland scored 143/7 after Nepal made 137 all out.
Scotland won by three wickets.
December 8
Scotland produced a much more convincing performance.
Nepal were bowled out for 119, and Scotland reached 121/2.
The eight-wicket victory was one of Scotland’s more comfortable results against Nepal during this period.
February 2023: Nepal’s Back-to-Back Comebacks
Nepal turned the rivalry around during two February 2023 encounters at Kirtipur.
February 17, 2023
Scotland posted 274/9 from 50 overs.
Nepal responded with 275/7, winning by three wickets.
The chase was significant because Nepal successfully pursued a total approaching 275 against a strong Scottish bowling attack.
February 21, 2023
The second meeting was another close Nepal victory.
Scotland were bowled out for 212, while Nepal reached 213/8.
Nepal won by two wickets.
The consecutive victories demonstrated Nepal’s growing ability to compete with Scotland in League 2 cricket.
2024: Nepal Continues Its Strong Run
The next major meetings came during the 2024 Cricket World Cup League 2 cycle.
On October 29, 2024, Scotland made 154 all out.
Nepal chased the target, reaching 157/5, and won by five wickets.
A scheduled meeting on November 4 ended without a result. Nepal were 26/1 when the match was abandoned.
The result extended Nepal’s successful run against Scotland in League 2 during this period.
2025: One of the Closest ODI Meetings
The 2025 League 2 matches produced one of the most dramatic games in the rivalry.
On June 2, 2025, Scotland scored 296/7.
Nepal completed the chase at 297/9, winning by one wicket.
A one-wicket victory is especially significant in a 50-over match because it means the chasing side required virtually all of its batting resources to complete the target.
Six days later, the teams produced another thriller.
Scotland scored 323/6, and Nepal replied with 321 all out.
Scotland won by just two runs.
That two-run result ranks among the closest finishes in the Scotland–Nepal rivalry.
2025 T20I Series
The teams also met twice during the Scotland T20 Tri-Series in June 2025.
June 17, 2025
Scotland were bowled out for 97.
Nepal reached 98/8 and won by two wickets.
The match became another example of Nepal successfully handling a tense low-scoring chase.
June 20, 2025
Scotland responded strongly.
They scored 193/5, while Nepal were dismissed for 159.
Scotland won by 34 runs.
The two matches ended with one victory apiece, continuing the competitive nature of the rivalry across formats.
2026: T20 World Cup Clash
The Scotland–Nepal rivalry reached a major global stage on February 17, 2026, when the teams met at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Scotland scored 170/7 from their 20 overs.
Nepal chased the target successfully, reaching 171/3 in 19.2 overs.
Nepal won by seven wickets.
The victory was notable for Nepal because it ended a long wait for a T20 World Cup win. Nepal’s chase was led by an aggressive start from Kushal Bhurtel and a crucial unbeaten half-century from Dipendra Singh Airee.
May 2026: Scotland Responds
The sides met again in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 in Nepal.
On May 12, 2026, Scotland scored 243/8.
Nepal reached 218/7 in 39 overs, but the match was decided using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Scotland won by two runs.
The result gave Scotland another extremely narrow victory over Nepal after their two-run thriller in June 2025.
May 18, 2026: Nepal Wins Again
Only a few days later, the teams met again.
Scotland were dismissed for 194, while Nepal chased the target with considerable authority, reaching 199/4.
Nepal won by six wickets.
The result meant the two sides had traded victories during their May 2026 League 2 meetings. Cricket Scotland’s official fixture list records the 194–199/4 result from the May 18 match in Kirtipur.
Head-to-Head Record
Their overall record depends on the format and the statistical database used.
In ODI cricket, one current head-to-head listing records nine matches, with Nepal winning five, Scotland three and one ending without a result.
The rivalry has also included numerous League 2 and other 50-over matches that are tracked within broader international records.
| Format/Competition | Major Pattern |
|---|---|
| ODI | Nepal has recorded more wins in the current nine-match ODI listing |
| Cricket World Cup League 2 | Very competitive, with several one-wicket and two-run finishes |
| T20I | Both teams have produced wins in recent meetings |
| T20 World Cup | Nepal defeated Scotland by seven wickets in 2026 |
Closest Scotland vs Nepal Matches
Several encounters stand out because of their extremely small margins.
Scotland won by 2 runs — June 8, 2025
Scotland’s 323/6 was followed by Nepal’s 321 all out.
The two-run margin remains one of the most dramatic finishes between the teams.
Scotland won by 2 runs — May 12, 2026
Scotland again won by two runs, this time after Nepal’s chase was affected by weather and the DLS method.
Nepal won by 1 wicket — June 2, 2025
Nepal successfully chased Scotland’s 296/7, reaching 297/9.
The one-wicket margin shows just how little separated the sides during the match.
Nepal won by 2 wickets — February 21, 2023
Nepal chased Scotland’s 212 and finished on 213/8.
It was another late-innings finish decided with very little room for error.
Highest-Scoring Meetings
The rivalry has produced several high-scoring games.
The June 8, 2025 match was particularly notable:
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Scotland | 323/6 |
| Nepal | 321 all out |
| Combined runs | 644 |
| Result | Scotland won by 2 runs |
The June 2 meeting was also a major run-scoring contest, with Scotland making 296/7 and Nepal replying with 297/9.
T20 World Cup Milestone
The 2026 T20 World Cup encounter added a major tournament chapter to the rivalry.
Scotland’s 170/7 looked competitive, but Nepal’s chase reached 171/3 in 19.2 overs.
The seven-wicket victory gave Nepal an important T20 World Cup result against Scotland and became one of the most recognizable meetings between the teams because it occurred at one of cricket’s biggest global tournaments.
Why the Rivalry Has Become So Competitive
The Scotland–Nepal rivalry has grown primarily through regular meetings in ICC qualification and League 2 competitions.
These competitions provide both teams with repeated opportunities to play one another rather than facing each other only at major tournaments.
That regularity has produced a useful contrast in styles. Scotland have traditionally had extensive experience in associate 50-over cricket, while Nepal’s international rise has brought greater depth and consistency to the fixture.
The scorelines show the effect. One-wicket victories, two-run defeats and successful high-pressure chases have become recurring features of the matchup.
Major Milestones in the Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Scotland beat Nepal by nine wickets in World Cricket League Championship |
| 2018 | Scotland defeated Nepal in the World Cup Qualifier |
| 2022 | Teams split their July League 2 matches |
| 2022 | Scotland won both December League 2 meetings |
| 2023 | Nepal won consecutive League 2 matches in February |
| 2024 | Nepal beat Scotland by five wickets in October |
| 2025 | Nepal won a one-wicket thriller and Scotland won by two runs in consecutive ODI meetings |
| 2025 | Scotland and Nepal split their T20I meetings |
| 2026 | Nepal beat Scotland by seven wickets at the T20 World Cup |
| 2026 | Scotland won the May 12 League 2 match by two runs |
| 2026 | Nepal won the May 18 League 2 match by six wickets |
FAQs
When did Scotland and Nepal first play each other?
A significant early meeting between the two sides came on July 31, 2015, in the ICC World Cricket League Championship. Scotland won by nine wickets.
What was the most recent Scotland vs Nepal match?
The latest meeting in the available 2026 results was on May 18, 2026, in ICC Cricket World Cup League 2. Nepal scored 199/4 after Scotland made 194 and won by six wickets.
When did Nepal beat Scotland at the T20 World Cup?
Nepal defeated Scotland by seven wickets on February 17, 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Scotland scored 170/7, and Nepal reached 171/3 in 19.2 overs.
What is the closest Scotland vs Nepal match?
Several matches have been decided by extremely small margins. Scotland won by two runs against Nepal on June 8, 2025, and again by two runs on May 12, 2026. Nepal also won by one wicket on June 2, 2025.
Why do Scotland and Nepal play each other so often?
Both teams have been regular participants in ICC associate-level competitions, particularly the Cricket World Cup League 2. Those competitions create recurring fixtures and have helped build the rivalry through repeated ODI contests.
Conclusion
The Scotland–Nepal cricket timeline is built around regular ICC competition, close finishes and a steady increase in the importance of their meetings.
Scotland dominated several early encounters, including wins in 2015, 2018 and 2022. Nepal then established a stronger run in the rivalry with consecutive victories in 2023 and another win in 2024.
The 2025 season produced some of the rivalry’s most dramatic cricket, including a one-wicket Nepal victory and a two-run Scotland win. The teams continued that pattern in 2026, with Nepal winning their T20 World Cup meeting and Scotland responding with another two-run League 2 victory before Nepal won the next meeting by six wickets.
