Kathmandu: Nepal suffered their third consecutive defeat—and second against the United States—losing by four wickets in the penultimate over of UAE Tri-series of the ICC World Cup League 2 (WCL-2) at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai, Saturday.

Sent in to bat first, Nepal posted 271 runs before being bowled out on the final delivery of their innings. The US successfully chased down the target, reaching 273-6 in 49 overs to seal back-to-back victories over Nepal. The loss marked Nepal’s third successive defeat in the series, having earlier gone down to hosts UAE by seven wickets and the US by 107-run.

Middle-order batters Saiteja Mukkamalla and Milind Kumar laid the foundation of the US victory, combining for a crucial 123-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Player of the Match Milind Kumar struck a fluent 70 off 66 balls, laced with seven fours and a six, before falling to spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. Mukkamalla top-scored for the US with a patient 75 off 101 balls, including two fours and a six, before being dismissed by Karan KC.

Openers Shayan Jahangir (36 off 42) and skipper Monank Patel (21 off 28) gave the US a solid start, while Harmeet Singh played the decisive role in the closing stages. With 16 needed from the final two overs, Harmeet struck two sixes off Nandan Yadav in the penultimate over, finishing unbeaten on 13 from five balls. Sanjay Krishnamurthi supported him with an unbeaten 15 off 13.

For Nepal, Lamichhane was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-53 from his 10 overs, while Yadav, Karan KC, and Gulshan Jha claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, middle-order batter Dipendra Singh Airee anchored Nepal’s innings with a composed 75, guiding them past the 270 mark. The innings got off to a shaky start when opener Aasif Sheikh fell cheaply for two to Nosthush Kenjige, but Kushal Bhurtel and Bhim Sharki steadied the ship with an 86-run stand for the second wicket.

Bhurtel made a fluent 47 off 65 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes, while Sharki contributed 43 off 58 before both departed in quick succession along with Aarif Sheikh (2), leaving Nepal struggling at 106-4.

Captain Rohit Paudel (36 off 46) then combined with Airee for an 89-run fifth-wicket partnership to rebuild the innings. Airee’s 67-ball knock featured two fours and three sixes before he fell as the seventh wicket. In the late surge, Karan KC played a blistering cameo, hammering 49 off just 31 balls with two boundaries and three sixes.

For the US, left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh was outstanding, finishing 3-33 from 10 overs. Saurabh Netravalkar and Nosthush Kenjige chipped in with two wickets each.

Nepal currently sit seventh with 12 points from 19 matches (five wins and two no results) in the ongoing three-year ICC League 2 cycle involving eight teams . The US lead the standings with 34 points from 23 games, followed by Scotland with 30 from 24, while the UAE remain bottom with eight points from 18 matches.