Scotland vs USA WCL2 2026 104th Match Kirtipur Recap May 14

The 104th match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 cycle landed at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on May 14, 2026. Scotland against the USA, on Nepali soil as part of the host's tri-nation leg, with 30 ODI Cricket World Cup 2027 qualification points on the table for the winner. Both sides arrived needing the result. Scotland sit in the top four of the table. The USA need every win they can find to keep the qualifier dream alive. Here is the full recap.

Match Summary

Detail	Value
Venue	Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Date	May 14, 2026
Toss	USA, chose to bowl
Scotland	271/7 in 50 overs
USA	248 all out in 47.4 overs
Result	Scotland won by 23 runs
Player of the Match	Richie Berrington (74)
Series Points	Scotland 10, USA 0

A used Kirtipur surface, slow under early-May sun, with the second-innings ball getting softer through the middle overs. Both sides selected three frontline pacers and one frontline spinner. The contest pivoted on the 35th to 42nd over window of the chase.

Scotland Innings

Berrington's 74 off 88 was the spine of Scotland's 271. He came in at 38/2 in the 9th over after the USA opening pair of Ali Khan and Saurabh Netravalkar found early seam movement off the surface. Berrington and George Munsey (52 off 67) added 121 for the third wicket between overs 10 and 30, neutralising the hard-length tactic the USA had set up for. Munsey's sweep release against the off-spin of Nosthush Kenjige — he scored 18 of his 52 against Kenjige — was the tactical headline.

The middle order failed to convert. Scotland slipped from 198/3 in the 38th to 232/7 in the 47th, conceding the death overs to the USA seamers. A late cameo from the No. 8 added 24 in the last 18 balls and Scotland posted 271 — eight to ten runs above what the wicket suggested as par.

USA Chase

The USA chase opened with Steven Taylor and Andries Gous. Taylor fell early to a Brad Wheal seamer that nipped back off the crease. Gous dug in and hit 41 off 58 before chopping on against the slower-ball cutter of Safyaan Sharif in the 19th over. The chase's real anchor was captain Monank Patel, who batted 38.2 overs for his 89 off 102, holding the innings together while the partners came and went around him.

The breaking point arrived in the 38th over. The USA needed 64 off 78 with five wickets in hand. Patel was caught at deep square-leg trying to clear the ring against the Mark Watt left-arm spin. Watt followed up with a second wicket two balls later. The USA collapsed from 208/5 to 248 all out, losing the last five wickets for 40 runs in 9.4 overs.

Bowling Spells That Mattered

Bowler	Side	Figures
Mark Watt	Scotland	10-1-44-3
Safyaan Sharif	Scotland	9.4-0-52-3
Brad Wheal	Scotland	10-2-38-2
Saurabh Netravalkar	USA	10-1-49-2
Ali Khan	USA	9-0-58-2
Nosthush Kenjige	USA	10-0-46-1

Watt's wicket of Patel was the match-defining ball. The slightly slower length, drawing the captain forward to drive against the spin, took out the only set batter and broke the chase open. Sharif cleaned up the tail with two yorkers in the 47th and 48th.

Qualification Race Impact

Scotland's 10-point haul lifts them deeper into the top four of the CWC League 2 table. Their net run rate — already healthy — nudges further forward. The USA, meanwhile, slip behind a critical net run rate margin and face a math problem with three series remaining in the cycle. They likely need to win seven of their remaining nine fixtures to stay in the top three direct-qualification spots for the ODI World Cup 2027 qualifier playoff.

Nepal, the host of this tri-nation leg, take centre stage in the next two games. Scotland will play Nepal next on May 16. The USA play Nepal on May 17 in a near-must-win for the visiting side.

Related Reading

For the wider CWC League 2 final-leg picture and how this match fits into the qualification map, see our ICC CWC L2 2026 final leg Day-1 preview Tilburg broadcast. For the full pathway explainer that traces every step from League 2 to the ODI World Cup, our ODI World Cup 2027 qualification pathway explained is the primer that frames every result in this cycle.

Closing Read

Scotland keep their qualification pace. The USA hit the table's tightest squeeze yet. Berrington and Watt did the heavy lifting. The 35th-to-42nd-over window cost the USA the game. Two sets of points changed hands, two qualification trajectories changed shape, and the cycle moves on.

Related coverage: T20 WC 2028 East Asia Pacific Qualifier Format Explained