Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane ended the Global Twenty20 Canada league campaign on a high note picking up two wickets but his Montreal Tigers side still lost to Toronto Nationals to finish at the bottom of the table on Sunday.

At the King City grounds, half centuries from George Worker and Moises Henriques lifted Tigers to a challenging 176-4 in 20 overs. Royals were once reeling at 27-3 before a middle order defiance kept them alive in the game. Tigers clawed their way back in the game once Sandeep removed Royals’ top scorer Nitish Kumar but the tail order held nerves to seal a thrilling victory in the final ball to seal a one wicket win.

With West Indies hard hitter Kieron Pollard still in the crease, Tigers needed 13 runs from the final over bowled Australian seamer Peter Siddle. Pollard almost did the job smashing Siddle for a six and a four in first two balls. But Siddle hit back with the wicket of Pollard in the third as Tigers were just one wicket away from victory.

Siddle conceded a single in the fourth and bowled a dot next ball leaving two to get from one. But Kesrick Williams hit Siddle for a boundary to deny Tigers what could have been their only second victory in the league stage.

Sandeep, who had played a key role in Tigers’ only victory (over Edmonton Royals), returned the figures of 2-34 from four overs. He has so far taken four wickets in the tournament from four matches after missing the first game against Winnipeg Hawks.

Sandeep will now be eager to finish his tournament campaign on a positive note when Tigers play first-placed West Indies ‘B’ in their next match of second round. The second round match, however, night not be sufficient for Tigers to reach the playoffs.

Man-of-the-match Kumar hit a 23-ball 46 with four boundaries and three sixes, while Pollard chipped in 37 off 21 hitting three sixes and as many fours. Anton Devcich contributed 43 from 34 with seven fours and a six. Siddle (3-45) and skipper Lasith Malinga (3-11) shared six wickets between them for Tigers.

Earlier, Worker and Henriques shared 127 runs for the third wicket to what initially looked like a winning total for Tigers. Worker made 62 off 52 with eight hits to the fence. Henriques scored a 39-ball 50 with four boundaries and three sixes. Indian seamer Mohammad Shami took three wickets for Nationals.