Nepal have leapfrogged USA to earn a place in the World Cup Qualifiers after a dramatic day at the World Cricket League Division 3 tournament in Bermuda.

It was a plausible, but unlikely, scenario at the start of the day with Nepal needing to thrash Italy then hope that Bermuda overcame USA. In the end, that is exactly what happened.

Nepal raced to victory with a massive 211 deliveries to spare which gave their net run-rate the surge required to keep their hopes alive. Tight bowling had restricted Italy to 127 for 9 and then Nepal’s openers – Subash Khakurel and Pradeep Airee – added 87 in 12 overs to speed them on their way before captain Paras Khadka provided the finishing touches with 22 off eight deliveries.

Still, however, Nepal needed a favour from Bermuda who, by now, had no chance of progressing. Ultimately, Bermuda cruised home with more than five overs to spare, but it will have been an agonising few hours for Nepal. They impressively knocked off 221 led by their captain, Chris Douglas, who made 89 off 75 balls. He may now find himself being offered the freedom of Kathmandu.

Nepal will now join Uganda, who had already qualified top of the group, at next year’s World Cup Qualifiers to compete for a chance to play at the main event in Australia and New Zealand during early 2015.