Kathmandu: Nepal succumbed to a narrow two-run defeat against hosts Scotland in a last-ball thriller in Scotland Tri-Series of the ICC World Cup League 2 at Forthill, Dundee, on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 324, Nepal needed seven runs in the final over with two wickets in hand. But, they managed only four, losing Karan KC on the third delivery and Lalit Rajbanshi on the final ball, falling short at 321 all out.

Earlier, Scotland won the toss and posted a formidable 323-6 in the allotted 50 overs. The hosts then held their nerve in a nail-biting finish to inflict Nepal first defeat of the series after three matches.

Scotland captain Richie Berrington led from the front with a superb knock of 102 off 144 balls, including six boundaries and four sixes, before being run out. His century was bolstered by crucial contributions from Charlie Tear and Michael Leask.

Opener Tear struck a fluent 68 off 65 deliveries, laced with nine boundaries, before falling to spinner Lalit Rajbanshi. Leask, batting at No 7, played a quickfire knock off 96 from 62 balls, hammering 12 fours and three sixes, narrowly missing out on a century. The player-of-the-match also chipped in with two wickets.

Nepal made an early impact with the ball, reducing Scotland to 25-2 after dismissing George Munsey for a duck and Brandon McMullen for 5 — both taken out by medium pacer Karan KC. But a 94-run partnership for the third wicket between Tear and Berrington revived Scotland’s innings.

In the death overs, Mark Watt added a quickfire 21 off 9 balls remaining not out while Finlay McCreath contributed 17 off 23.

Nepal’s bowling was spearheaded by Karan KC and Dipendra Singh Airee, both taking two wickets each while Lalit Rajbanshi claimed one.

In reply, Nepal had a shaky start, losing Kushal Bhurtel (17), Aasif Sheikh (8), and captain Rohit Paudel (3) early on as they were left tottering at 34-3. But a string of half-centuries from Bhim Sharki, Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami kept Nepal in the hunt.

Coming in at No 3, Bhim steadied the innings with a composed 73 off 85 balls, hitting eight boundaries. He shared a 94-run stand with Aarif Sheikh, who added 39 off 55, including five fours, before being bowled by Leask.

Dipendra continued the momentum with a solid 56 off 51 balls while Sompal played a blazing knock of 67 off just 44 deliveries, smashing three boundaries and four sixes. However, his dismissal as the eighth wicket triggered a collapse, with Karan and Lalit adding only 13 more runs as Nepal fell agonisingly short, needing 16 off the final two overs.

Mackenzie Jones was the pick of the Scottish bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 55 runs in his nine-over spell. Safyaan Sharif and Michael Leask claimed two wickets each.

Nepal had previously registered back-to-back wins — edging Scotland by one wicket and defeating the Netherlands by five wickets. They will play their final match of the series against the Netherlands on Tuesday.