The two Chris’ – Sole and McBride – starred with ball and bat respectively as Scotland’s men made it two wins from two in Namibia on their Cricket World Cup League 2 tour.
On Thursday, Shane Burger’s men had seen off the hosts and this time around it was Nepal who they got the better of as 137 all out played 143-7.
This three wicket triumph in Windhoek was set-up by some excellent bowling and seamer Chris Sole, who took 3-12 and seems to be getting better and better at this level, was later named player of the match.
With the bat, opener Chris McBride top scored with 43 while Brandon McMullen, who has made a great start to life in Scotland colours, finished things off with a 6 as he made 32 not out.
“It was good to get another win on the board,” vice-captain and wicketkeeper Matthew Cross said.
“We won the toss and the way that Soley [Chris Sole] and Brandon [McMullen] bowled early on really set the tone and caused Nepal issues.
“Credit to Nepal, they fought hard and started to build a little bit before Soley came back on and took wickets and everyone else backed him up.
“To restrict Nepal to 137 was a job well done.
“Batting wise, we got off to an okay start, but then we stumbled a bit as the pitch got lower and slower and brought their bowlers into the game.
“They made it tough for us, but we got over the line thanks to Brandon who has been exceptional in his first two games at this level.”
Scotland got off to the best possible start when McMullen, given the new ball, had Aasif Sheikh caught behind by Cross in the third over.
Arjun Saud and Gyanendra Malla then put on 37 runs for the second wicket before the former, the Nepal wicketkeeper, was run out. Malla then fell victim to Mark Watt – Kyle Coetzer taking a great catch – to leave them 57-3 in the 17th over.
Aarif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel and Rohit Paudel then all fell to Sole, who had opened the bowling and then returned, and Nepal were in a bit of bother at 83-6 in the 26th over.
Gulsan Jha put up some resistance with 29 to get his side up and over the 130 mark, but Safyaan Sharif, Michael Leask and Watt took wickets along with a run out to end the innings in just the 41st over.
Sole took 3-12 from seven overs and Watt 2-19 in a good all-round bowling and fielding display.
George Munsey got Scotland’s reply off to a flier with 17 in the first three overs before he was bowled by Sagar Dhakal to leave them on 21-1.
Before the 10th over was completed, Coetzer and skipper Richie Berrington were back in the pavilion and it was 47-3.
By the time McBride was stumped off the bowling of Lalit Rajbanshi in the 17th over, his team were up to 79 and he had made 43 off 47 balls.
Cross (13) and Leask (22) helped Scotland up to 126-6 before Watt was also out leaving them on 131-7.
McMullen kept his cool though and along with Sharif (2 not out) got the team home with nearly 18 overs to spare, the final blow a brilliant maximum off Dhakal.
Next up for Scotland is their rematch with Namibia on Monday and then their second clash with Nepal on Thursday.
