Scotland edge out Nepal in Ayr
Wednesday 29 July 2015 21:53, UK
Scotland began the long road to World Cup qualifying with a three-run victory over Nepal in Ayr.
Skipper Preston Mommsen hit 78 from 62 balls as Scotland posted a total of 235-7 in a one-day international that was reduced to 36 overs per innings.
And the Scots clung on to restrict Nepal to 232-5 and edge home for victory in their first ICC World Cricket League Championship encounter.
After a three-hour delay while damp patches dried out on the surface, George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer got Scotland's innings underway after Nepal elected to field.
The former was caught out by a diving catch for 19 before Matthew Cross (20) went lbw and Craig Wallace played on with just two runs to his name.
Coetzer was eventually caught out for 40 but Mommsen kick-started the home side's total with the help of four sixes.
Con de Lange then hit an unbeaten 55 - his first half-century for Scotland - as the home side posted a difficult target for the visitors.
Nepal started their innings slowly but opener Anil Mandal was approaching a century before being caught out by Richie Berrington in the final over as the Nepalese fell just short of their target.
The World Cricket League Championship is a 50-over competition played between leading Associate and Affiliate members. Success in this format gives teams the chance to play in the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers in 2018 and - further down the line - earn a chance to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019.
