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NEW DELHI: Michael Jones struck a fluent 71 to guide Scotland to a competitive 170 for 7 in their inconsequential T20 World Cup Group C clash against Nepal on Tuesday.

Both sides had already been eliminated from Super Eight contention, with West Indies and England progressing from the group, but Scotland ensured they signed off with a fighting total on a flat surface.

Jones anchors Scotland with aggressive fifty

Jones was the standout performer, smashing eight fours and three sixes in his 45 ball knock. While several Scottish batters got starts, none managed to convert them into substantial contributions.

The opener did the bulk of the scoring in an 80 run opening stand with George Munsey. Jones found the gaps with ease and struck the ball cleanly, collecting boundaries at regular intervals.

Munsey, however, struggled to shift gears despite batting until the halfway stage of the innings. He managed 27 off 29 balls with four boundaries but failed to find fluency.

His frustration was evident when he perished off the final delivery of the 10th over, mistiming a full toss from Rohit Paudel. Sundeep Jora completed a sharp diving catch at long on, leaving Munsey visibly disappointed.

Missed chances and dramatic moments

Nepal had their moments in the field, though not without lapses.

Jora appeared to have taken a simple catch when Brandon McMullen lofted Nandan Yadav on the first ball of the 14th over. Stationed at mid on, Jora barely had to move, but the ball slipped through his hands and hit the turf as he fell forward, giving Scotland a reprieve.

Jones continued his assault, launching a massive 94 metre six that sailed straight into the balcony of the Scottish dressing room, where teammate Tom Bruce completed the catch in the stands.

Nepal fight back late with the ball

Jones’ impressive innings came to an end in the 16th over when Kami, operating from around the wicket, bowled him and then showed sharp reflexes to complete a one handed return catch off McMullen.

With their main aggressor back in the pavilion, Scotland lost momentum in the closing stages.

Kami finished with impressive figures of 3 for 25, while Nandan Yadav chipped in with 2 for 34 to pull things back for Nepal after Jones had threatened to take the game away.

(With PTI Inputs)