Nepal Vs USA, ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 Updates: Disappointment For NEP As Milind Kumar Powers US To 4 Wicket Win

Greetings and welcome to everyone joining us for some weekend cricket action. The qualifying tournament for the 2027 ODI World Cup continues, with Nepal locking horns with USA again. Stay with us for the build-up and live updates.

Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Bhim Sharki, Rohit Paudel (c), Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Anil Sah, Nandan Yadav, Kushal Malla, Shahab Alam

United States of America Squad: Smit Patel (wk), Andries Gous, Monank Patel (c), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shayan Jahangir, Milind Kumar, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar, Rushil Ugarkar, Nosthush Kenjige, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Yasir Mohammad, Juanoy Drysdale

USA have won the toss and elected to field first against Nepal.

Here is Nepal's team news:

United States of America: Smit Patel (wk), Monank Patel (c), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shayan Jahangir, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Milind Kumar, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar, Nosthush Kenjige

The first ball will be bowled at 11am IST. The Nepal vs USA, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023-27 match will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India. In Nepal, the match will be available on Kantipur Max TV. In the United States, the NEP vs USA cricket match can be watched on Willow TV.

And we are underway for the match between Nepal and USA at the Dubai International Stadium. Saurabh Netravalkar bowls a maiden first over to start things off. Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh open the batting for the Rhinos.

Early wicket for Nepal as opening batter Aasif Sheikh walks back after getting bowled for just 2 runs by left-arm off spinner Nosthush Kenjige.

The talented Bhim Sharki has joined Kushal Bhurtel in the middle and the duo have played some really good shots so far as they aim to put together a partnership here.

The 1st batting powerplay is up and Nepal have scored 5 runs per over after the early fall of opener Aasif Sheikh. Kushal Bhurtel and Bhim Sharki have steadied the innings with their 50-run partnership.

USA bowlers are a bit under pressure from the steadiness of Kushal Bhurtel and Bhim Sharki. Runs are coming easily for Nepal at the moment as the Americans look for more breakthroughs.

Kushal Bhurtel and Bhim Sharki's partnership is getting stronger and the duo are in full control at the moment with Bhurtel inching towards a half-century.

Oh no! Kushal Bhurtel has to depart for 47 and becomes Harmeet Singh's first scalp of the day. He handed an easy catch to Saurabh Netravalkar and the partnership has finally been broken.

The first 100 runs are up for Nepal and it took them more than 20 overs to do so.

The saying is true - one brings another. Soon after Kushal Bhurtel's departure, Bhim Sharki has fallen as well and it's that man Harmeet Singh again. The spin bowler has now denied half-centuries to both Bhurtel and Sharki.

Another one bites the dust. Aarif Sheikh comes and goes for a score of 2 and Saurabh Netravalkar has his first wicket of the day. Nepal under pressure now as they lose their 3rd wicket in the space of just 4 overs. Onus now on skipper Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee.

Skipper Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee will have to bat with caution now as losing another wicket will be problematic for the Rhinos.

Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee have put together a crucial 50+ partnership for the 5th wicket with Nepal closing in on 200 runs. They are currently maintaining a run-rate of 4.94.

Dipendra Singh Airee is charging against the US bowling attack and the run-rate has also significantly increased, currently at 5.19 per over.

Dipendra Singh Airee brings up a fiery half-century off 43 balls in a very delicate situation. He has batted excellently since coming to the crease and his partnership with skipper Rohit Paudel has also gone over 80 runs.

Harmeet Singh strikes for the 3rd time today and gets the wicket of Nepal captain Rohit Paudel for a score of 36 off 46. Half of the Rhinos batters are back to the pavilion. The only good news for Nepal is that Dipendra Singh Airee is still standing firm on the crease and he is batting at a strike rate of over 110. 200 is also up.

After much hardwork, Jasdeep Singh has a wicket at last. He removes Gulshan Kumar Jha for just 5 off 11 but Dipendra Singh Airee is holding on from the other end. Last few overs now.

Second wicket of the day for Nosthush Kenjige and he gets the big fish - Dipendra Singh Airee for 75. It was a terrific knock from Airee. He scored 2 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 111.94.

Tailender Nandan Yadav departs just 1; Saurabh Netravalkar gets his second wicket. Karan KC is still at the crease and he is batting at a decent strike rate. He will aim for a strong finish.

What a knock that by Karan KC as he leaves after smashing 49 off 31 at a strike rate of 158 to help his side have a strong finish in the 1st innings.

Nepal have been bowled out for 271 runs in the 1st innings, courtesy of a strong finish from the bats of Dipendra Singh Airee (75 off 67) and Karan KC (49 off 31). The Rhinos will be happy with their effort with the bat and their bowlers will now aim to defend the target of 272.

Saurabh Netravalkar: 10 Overs, 1 Maiden, 61 runs and 2 wickets

Nosthush Kenjige: 10 Overs, 45 runs and 2 wickets

Jasdeep Singh: 9.5 Overs, 64 runs and 1 wicket

Shubham Ranjane: 7 overs, 54 runs and 1 wicket

Harmeet Singh: 10 overs, 33 runs and 3 wickets

Openers Smit Patel and Shayan Jahangir stride out to the middle and Nepal medium pacer Nandan Yadav has the ball in hand. Patel gets off the mark off the second delivery and Jahangir off the last one, and those are the only run to come from Yadav's tidy first over.

USA: 2/0 (1)

Openers Smit Patel and Shayan Jahangir have started strongly for the North Americans, scoring at a rate of 5.48 per over.

Shayan Jahanhgir is leading from the front for USA, taking on the Nepal bowlers with an aggressive intent. Smit Patel is playing rather slowly as the North Americans bring 50 up.

USA have lost both of their openers Smit Patel (16 off 27) and Shayan Jahangir (36 off 42) in quick succession, within a span of 8 deliveries. Skipper Monank Patel and Saiteja Mukamalla are out in the middle.

The Nepal bowlers, especially Sandeep Lamichhane and Lalit Rajbanshi, are keeping the pressure high on Monank Patel and Saiteja Mukkamalla.

The pressure was building up and just as Monank Patel tried to release some of it, he got caught by Nandan Yadav off Kushel Bhurtel's delivery. Patel departs for 21 off 28.

Milind Kumar and Saiteja Mukkamalla keep fighting for the win but the Nepalese bowlers are making it very hard for them to score runs at the moment. The asking rate is 6.43 and USA are way below that - 4.72.

150 up for USA; Milind Kumar and Saiteja Mukkamalla's partnership has also reached the 50-run mark but the job is far from over. With 17 overs to go, they will have to switch gears and bring the asking rate down, which is currently at 6.94 per over.

Milind Kumar and Saiteja Mukkamalla are fighting but the duo are unable to keep the asking rate down. Both the batters have scored half-centuries but they now need to pace up their innings.

Milind Kumar and Saiteja Mukkamalla complete a 100-run partnership and also bring up the 200-mark for the USA, who seem to be inching closer to the victory now. We are surely in for a very interesting last 9 overs.

Sandeep Lamichhane gets the breakthrough wicket of Milind Kumar, who is walking off sadly after scoring a tremendous 70 off 66 and setting up a brilliant 123-run partnership with Saiteja Mukkamalla, who is still at the crease.

Oh no! Saiteja Mukkamalla departs for 75 and the pressure is once again back on USA. It's all down to Shubham Ranjane and Sanjay Krishnamurthi now. The Americans need 29 off 20 for the win.

What a fabulous ending to the game!!! And it's that man Harmeet Singh, once again, who scores the winning runs with consecutive sixes off Nandan Yadav. USA have now beaten Nepal twice in the space of 6 days and this one will hurt the Rhinos for sure. They were pretty much in the game, but could not handle the pressure at the backend of the match. The Americans register another famous victory by 4 wickets at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai. The Nepalese team is jolted, as seen from the players' reactions but sheer jubilation for the Stars and Stripes today.