Dutch men’s team defeated by eager Nepal
Published at 02 March, 2024The Dutch men’s cricket team has lost the T20 match against Nepal. In Kathmandu, the meagre Dutch score of 120 runs was easily surpassed by the Nepalese. However, the Dutch team remains the leader in the T20 tournament, the final of which will be played on March 5.
In the morning hours, the ball swung and seamed vigorously, and Michael Levitt and Sybrand Engelbrecht disappeared in the first over of Karan KC. Scott Edwards and Max O'Dowd made it to 54 when Edwards (18) was bowled by 19-year-old left-handed seamer Pratis GC. In that over, the same thing happened to Max O'Dowd (31), to the delight of the thousands of spectators.
O'Dowd, Van der Merwe (23) and Van der Gugten (24) made reasonable scores, but could not prevent the Netherlands from stumbling to 120 all out in 19.3 overs. Pratis GC took 3-13 for the Nepalese, Karan KC and Kushal Malla both 2-18.
Innings Nepal
In view of the open-mindedness with which Nepal usually bats, it would take a miracle for the Netherlands to win. Viv Kingma provided a glimmer of hope when he made it 26/1 (sharp catch by Van der Gugten at mid on) and 27/2 with a beautiful slower ball in the same over.
Yet the required miracle did not happen; Nepal could cruise to the target of 121. Dutt cleaned Gulshan Jha for 38 and Noah Croes caught captain Rohit Poudel brilliantly in the covers for 46, but in 15.2 overs the game was settled. Viv Kingma stood tall with 3-17 in four overs.
On Sunday, March 3, the Netherlands will play against Namibia. The final will be on March 5.
