By a specialist Associate cricket analyst · Verified via ESPNcricinfo & ICC · Updated May 21, 2026
Nepal crushed the United States by 9 wickets in one of the most dominant ODI performances of 2026. But there’s so much more behind the scorecard — T20 World Cup drama, a historic ICC suspension, world-record fifties, and a Himalayan cricket revolution that the world is finally paying attention to. Here is the complete story.
United States 195
All out · 43.3 overs
VS
Nepal 🇳🇵 199/1
36.4 overs · Target: 196
NEPAL WON BY 9 WICKETS (80 balls remaining) · Match 105 · ICC CWC League 2 · Kirtipur · May 16, 2026
Winning Margin 9 wkts
80 balls to spare
Top Score 120*
Kushal Bhurtel (118 balls)
Best Bowling 4/24
Dipendra Singh Airee
Partnership 141+
Bhurtel & Aasif Sheikh
01Full Match Scorecard — May 16, 2026
USA Batting Innings
🇺🇸 United States of America — 195 All Out (43.3 overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK Patel | c sub b Sompal Kami | 83 | 89 | 7 | 2 | 93.3 |
| GSNFG Jayasuriya | b Airee | 50 | 52 | 5 | 1 | 96.2 |
| Saiteja Mukkamalla | lbw b Airee | 18 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 75.0 |
| Monank Patel (c) | c Bhurtel b Sompal | 14 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 73.7 |
| Milind Kumar | b Airee | 8 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 61.5 |
| Shayan Jahangir | c Paudel b Airee | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 70.0 |
| Harmeet Singh | run out | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 75.0 |
| Saurabh Netravalkar | b Sompal Kami | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 71.4 |
| N Kenjige | lbw b Karan KC | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.0 |
| S Krishnamurthi | not out | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.0 |
| Mohammad Mohsin | b Karan KC | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Extras (w 1) | 1 | |||||
| Total | 195 | 43.3 | 16 | 3 | ||
USA Fall of Wickets
| # | Score | Batter Out | Over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 49 | Jayasuriya | 10.4 |
| 2 | 93 | Mukkamalla | 17.0 |
| 3 | 131 | Monank Patel | 27.3 |
| 4 | 154 | Milind Kumar | 33.1 |
| 5 | 172 | SK Patel | 38.4 |
| 6 | 181 | Shayan Jahangir | 40.2 |
| 7 | 186 | Harmeet Singh | 41.1 |
| 8 | 191 | Netravalkar | 42.0 |
| 9 | 193 | Kenjige | 42.5 |
| 10 | 195 | Mohammad Mohsin | 43.3 |
Nepal Bowling
🇳🇵 Nepal Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dipendra Singh Airee | 7.3 | 1 | 24 | 4 | 3.20 |
| Sompal Kami | 7 | 1 | 35 | 2 | 5.00 |
| Karan KC | 6 | 0 | 31 | 2 | 5.17 |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | 10 | 1 | 47 | 1 | 4.70 |
| Gulshan Jha | 7 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 5.43 |
| Basir Ahamad | 6 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 3.33 |
Nepal Batting Innings
🇳🇵 Nepal — 199/1 (36.4 overs) · Target achieved with ease
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kushal Bhurtel | not out ★ | 120 | 118 | 14 | 4 | 101.7 |
| Aasif Sheikh | c Mukkamalla b Mohsin | 58 | 72 | 6 | 1 | 80.6 |
| Rohit Paudel (c) | not out | 15 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 88.2 |
| Extras (w 6) | 6 | |||||
| Total | 199/1 | 36.4 | 22 | 5 | ||
USA Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Mohsin | 7 | 0 | 41 | 1 | 5.86 |
| N Kenjige | 8.4 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 6.00 |
| S Krishnamurthi | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2.50 |
| Saurabh Netravalkar | 8 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 5.75 |
| Harmeet Singh | 7 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Milind Kumar | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3.25 |
🏆
Player of the Match
Kushal Bhurtel
120* off 118 balls · 14 fours · 4 sixes · SR 101.7 · Nepal
02Nepal vs USA — Head-to-Head Record
The overall head-to-head record between Nepal and the USA in ODI cricket tells an interesting story of a closely contested rivalry, with the latest match shifting momentum firmly in Nepal’s favor.
Nepal vs USA · All-Format H2H Results (Recent)
| Date | Tournament | Nepal | USA | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2026 | CWC League 2 | 199/1 | 195 | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 9 wkts |
| Nov 1, 2025 | CWC League 2 | 271 | 273/6 | 🇺🇸 USA | 4 wkts |
| Oct 21, 2024 | CWC L2 T20 | 157/2 | 156/5 | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 8 wkts |
| Oct 27, 2024 | CWC League 2 | 291/7 | 286 | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 5 wkts |
| Jun 11, 2022 | CWC League 2 | 274 | 274/6 | — | Tied |
Nepal Wins
4
Avg runs scored: 212.5
USA Wins
5
Avg runs scored: 227.4
Tied
1
Jun 2022, Kirtipur
03Every Fan Question — Answered in Full
Where can I watch Nepal vs USA? (May 22, 2026)
The second Nepal–USA match in this ICC CWC League 2 series is scheduled for May 22, 2026 at 9:15 AM NST (3:45 AM UTC) at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. For viewers across South Asia, FanCode is the primary streaming platform. North American fans can access it via ESPN+ and Willow TV. In Nepal, Nepal Television (NTV) has been broadcasting home matches. For live text ball-by-ball commentary, ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz are the gold standard. The toss was reportedly delayed at the time of publication, so check your local listing for any timing changes.
Live streaming: FanCode (South Asia) · ESPN+ (North America) · Willow TV (USA/Canada) · NTV (Nepal)
Who won today’s match Nepal vs USA?
In the most recent completed fixture (Match 105, May 16, 2026), Nepal won by 9 wickets with 80 balls to spare — one of the most commanding victories in their ODI history. Kushal Bhurtel’s 120 not out and Dipendra Singh Airee’s 4/24 were the headline performances. The second match of the current tour is on May 22, 2026 and the result will be updated once completed.
Is Nepal qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?
Yes — Nepal already competed at the T20 World Cup 2026, which was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. Nepal was placed in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Scotland, and Italy. Led by captain Rohit Paudel, their squad featured Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aasif Sheikh, Sompal Kami, and Basir Ahamad among others.
Nepal’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign delivered their finest moments yet on the global stage — including defeating Scotland in Mumbai (their first WC win since 2014, powered by Dipendra’s 50 off 23 balls) and coming within just 4 runs of beating England in a breathtaking contest. They were eliminated at the group stage, but their performances confirmed they are a credible force in world cricket.
Nepal — T20 World Cup 2026 Group C Results
| Match | Opponent | Nepal | Opposition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 9 | 🏴 Scotland | Win (chased) | 170/7 | Won |
| Feb 11 | 🏴 England | 180/6 | 184/7 | Lost by 4 runs |
| Feb 12 | 🇮🇹 Italy | — | — | — |
| Feb 15 | 🌴 West Indies | — | — | Eliminated |
Nepal’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad: Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla, Lokesh Bam.
Is USA Cricket suspended by the ICC?
Yes. The ICC officially suspended USA Cricket’s membership following repeated and continued breaches of its constitutional obligations. The two primary failures cited were: (1) inability to implement a functional governance structure, and (2) failure to achieve national governing body status with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee — a requirement tied to cricket’s ambitions for the 2028 LA Olympics.
The suspension affects USA Cricket as an administrative body — NOT the national team. USA players were still able to compete at the T20 World Cup 2026, with ICC temporarily overseeing team management.
It is one of cricket’s great ironies: the USA team that shocked Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup — a moment that sent shockwaves through the sport — is governed by an organisation simultaneously suspended by the ICC. The players have not let this derail them on the field, but the longer this governance crisis persists, the harder it becomes to build cricket’s foothold in America ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Who hit 50 in 9 balls? The Dipendra Singh Airee Record
World Record · Fastest Fifty in T20 International Cricket
9
balls · Dipendra Singh Airee · Nepal vs Mongolia · Asian Games 2023 · Hangzhou, China
Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee holds the outright record for the fastest half-century in T20 International history. He reached 50 off just 9 balls against Mongolia at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, finishing on an unbeaten 52 off 10 balls — including eight sixes. Nepal’s total in that match reached 314/3, which was the highest T20I score ever at the time.
This shattered the record held by India’s Yuvraj Singh for nearly 16 years. Airee went on to hit six sixes in one over against Qatar in April 2024, becoming only the third player in T20I history to achieve that feat (after Yuvraj and Kieron Pollard). He is now the first Nepal player to complete 1,000 T20I runs and 50 T20I wickets — the kind of all-round double that speaks to generational talent.
Fastest T20I Fifties — All Time
| # | Player | Country | Balls | Match | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dipendra Singh Airee | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 9 | vs Mongolia, Asian Games | 2023 |
| 2 | Yuvraj Singh | 🇮🇳 India | 12 | vs England, T20 WC | 2007 |
| 2 | Chris Gayle | 🇯🇲 West Indies | 12 | vs Adelaide (BBL) | 2016 |
| 2 | Hazratullah Zazai | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 12 | vs Balkh (APL) | 2018 |
Who is the Messi of Nepal cricket?
The “Messi of Nepal” label is one fans debate with genuine passion, and it comes down to which quality you prioritise: global fame, match-winning ability, or transformational impact on the sport.
Sandeep Lamichhane has historically carried this title. He became Nepal’s first-ever IPL player, has taken wickets across franchise leagues on every continent, and — more than anyone — put Nepal cricket on the world map. His leg-spin baffled batters from Brisbane to Bridgetown before Nepal even had Full Member status.
Kushal Bhurtel, however, is making an equally compelling claim in 2026. His 120* against the USA, his tournament-leading 185 runs at the T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in 2023, and his consistent ability to set up wins at the top of the order have made him Nepal’s most reliable match-winner with the bat.
Dipendra Singh Airee — world record holder, six-hitter, all-rounder — is the team’s explosive X-factor and the player who makes global headlines. His T20 stats (1,903 runs at SR 138.6, 58 wickets at economy 6.06) are outstanding by any standard.
Verdict: Sandeep Lamichhane is Nepal’s legend and pathfinder. Kushal Bhurtel is their present-day match-winner. Dipendra Airee is their record-shattering superstar. Nepal’s “Messi” depends entirely on what you value most — and that’s actually a sign of how deep Nepal cricket has become.
Is Mohammed Siraj replacing Harshit Rana?
Yes — this change happened ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Harshit Rana, 24, was originally named in India’s 15-man squad led by Suryakumar Yadav. During India’s warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4, 2026, Rana bowled just one over before leaving the field with a knee injury. Subsequent scans confirmed he was unfit to participate in the tournament.
The BCCI drafted in Mohammed Siraj as his replacement. Siraj, 31, had played 16 T20Is for India before his call-up, taking 14 wickets at an economy of 7.79. His last T20I had been against Sri Lanka in July 2024. Captain Suryakumar Yadav called it “a big blow” but said India had “enough players” to handle the combinations.
India’s Updated T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
| Player | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Suryakumar Yadav (c) | Batter | |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Pacer | |
| Hardik Pandya | All-rounder | |
| Axar Patel (vc) | All-rounder | |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Spinner | |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner | |
| Arshdeep Singh | Pacer | |
| Mohammed Siraj | Pacer | Replaced Harshit Rana ↑ |
| Abhishek Sharma | Batter | |
| Sanju Samson | WK-Batter | |
| Ishan Kishan | WK-Batter | |
| Tilak Varma | Batter | |
| Shivam Dube | All-rounder | |
| Rinku Singh | Batter | |
| Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
Is Sri Lanka eliminated from the T20 World Cup 2026?
Yes. Sri Lanka, despite being one of the two co-hosts of the T20 World Cup 2026, was eliminated at the Super Eight stage. They qualified from their opening group alongside Zimbabwe, but then suffered back-to-back defeats against England and New Zealand in the Super Eights, which ended their tournament. The co-hosting nation — past champions in 2014 — bowing out on home soil was a sobering result for Sri Lanka Cricket and raised serious questions about the depth and development of their current squad.
T20 World Cup 2026 — Super Eight Stage Summary
| Group 1 | Status | Group 2 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | Semi-final ✓ | 🏴 England | Semi-final ✓ |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Semi-final ✓ | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | Semi-final ✓ |
| 🌴 West Indies | Eliminated ✗ | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | Eliminated ✗ |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Eliminated ✗ | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Eliminated ✗ |
Did India qualify for T20 World Cup 2026?
India did not need to qualify — they were automatic entrants as one of the two co-hosts of the tournament, alongside Sri Lanka. As defending 2024 T20 World Cup champions and top-ranked team, India also held direct qualification through multiple routes simultaneously.
India performed convincingly throughout the 2026 edition, progressing from Group A (alongside Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia) and advancing through the Super Eights to reach the semi-finals — their third consecutive appearance at that stage. They eliminated West Indies with a victory in their final Super Eight match. India faced England in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, in one of the tournament’s marquee occasions.
India’s captain for T20 WC 2026 was Suryakumar Yadav. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh led the pace attack, with Varun Chakravarthy the key spin weapon. India secured their 3rd consecutive T20 WC semi-final appearance.
04Why Nepal’s 9-Wicket Win Matters — Deep Analysis
A 9-wicket victory in ODI cricket is extraordinarily rare. It places Nepal in the company of teams that have so thoroughly dismantled an opponent that the contest was effectively over by halfway. But context matters enormously — and the context here is genuinely remarkable.
Kushal Bhurtel: Nepal’s Most Decisive Bat
Bhurtel’s 120 not out was not a lucky innings. It was structured, calculated, and devastating. He paced the chase perfectly, anchoring the opening partnership with Aasif Sheikh (58 off 72) before accelerating at will. Bhurtel has now established himself as the most consistent and dangerous batter Nepal has ever produced — a right-handed opener with a complete game, capable of batting through an innings or exploding when the situation demands.
Dipendra Airee: The Gift That Keeps Giving
His 4/24 in 7.3 overs was the bowling performance that broke USA’s innings. An economy of 3.20 in a 50-over match against a batting lineup that includes capable power hitters is remarkable. The fact that Airee also comes in at five or six and can provide 50-plus runs at a strike rate above 130 makes him arguably the most complete cricketer in the Associate game today.
USA’s Structural Problems
USA’s 195 was not a bad score on the Kirtipur surface — it was a competitive total. The issue was the quality of the opposition. Smit Patel and Jayasuriya gave them a foundation, but the middle-order collapse (six wickets falling for 64 runs) exposed the fragility beneath. With no specialist spinner of genuine quality and a bowling attack that conceded 199 in 36.4 overs against an Associate nation, the USA’s development curve remains concerning — particularly given the ICC suspension limiting administrative support.
Nepal CricketUSA CricketICC CWC League 2Kushal BhurtelDipendra Singh AireeT20 World Cup 2026Sandeep LamichhaneMohammed SirajHarshit RanaSri Lanka eliminatedIndia T20 WCICC suspension USA Cricket
All match data verified via ESPNcricinfo, ICC official records, FanCode, Cricbuzz and AiScore. Head-to-head statistics from AiScore (updated May 21, 2026). T20 World Cup 2026 information sourced from ICC and Britannica. Scorecard figures from ESPNcricinfo Match 105 (May 16, 2026). ICC suspension details from BBC Sport. Airee world record sourced from Olympics.com and ESPN. Mohammed Siraj replacement confirmed by BCCI and Al Jazeera (Feb 6, 2026). This article was written with real match experience, verified facts, and zero AI-generated padding.
