KIRTIPUR: An aggressive half-century from Dipendra Singh Airee combined with a anchoring knock from Ishan Pandey powered Nepal to a commanding total of 317 runs at the loss of eight wickets in their 50 overs against the United States of America.

The 108th match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 unfolded at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground on Friday, where the visiting USA team won the toss and elected to field first.

Nepal’s opening pair built a steady foundation despite early wet outfield conditions, racing to 62 runs in the first powerplay.

Kushal Bhurtel contributed 29 off 39 balls before falling to Shubham Ranjane, while wicketkeeper-batsman Aasif Sheikh chipped in with 43 off 57 deliveries before being caught off Rushil Ugarkar’s bowling.

Their departures brought Ishan Pandey and skipper Rohit Paudel together, staging a crucial 110-run partnership that shifted total momentum to the hosts. Paudel played a captain’s knock of 46 from 59 balls before being trapped leg-before by Milind Kumar.

Pandey anchored the majority of the innings with a brilliant 84 off 83 balls, smashing 8 boundaries and a six. Following his departure in the 41st over, all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee injected rapid urgency into the death overs.

Airee blasted a spectacular 59 runs off just 36 deliveries, hitting 4 boundaries and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 163.88 to guide Nepal past the 300-run mark.

Late contributions from Gulsan Jha (15) and Aarif Sheikh (18 not out) capped off an explosive final phase where Nepal looted 61 runs in the final five overs.

Among the American bowlers, Shubham Ranjane was the most successful, claiming 3 wickets for 61 runs across his 10 overs.

Milind Kumar kept things tight with figures of 1/39 in his 8 overs, while Rushil Ugarkar picked up one wicket but proved expensive, conceding 81 runs from his 9 overs.

Facing a daunting target of 318 runs on a true Kirtipur surface, the United States top order faces a steep uphill climb as they step out to chase a run rate of over six runs per over.