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| Logan van Beek swung out Kushal Bhurtel for 7, GETTY I AGES |
The Netherlands showcased their bowling prowess to dismantle Nepal for a mere 106 runs in their T20 World Cup encounter, marking Nepal's lowest total in the tournament's history.
Opting to bat first, Nepal's innings faltered immediately. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh fell for 7 and 4 runs, respectively, within the powerplay. Captain Rohit Paudel (35 off 37) and Anil Sah (11) attempted to stabilize the innings but fell to the relentless Dutch attack. Lower-order contributions from Karan KC (17) and Gulsan Jha (14) were the only other notable scores. Tim Pringle and Logan van Beek were instrumental, taking three wickets each, while Paul van Meekeren and Bas de Leede chipped in with two wickets apiece.
In response, the Netherlands faced an early hiccup, losing Levitt to Karan KC. However, the Dutch batsmen maintained composure, reaching 36/1 by the end of the powerplay. Max O'Dowd anchored the chase with an unbeaten 54 off 48 balls, ensuring no further significant setbacks. Vikramjit Singh supported with 22 runs, guiding the Netherlands to 109/4 in 18.4 overs.
Despite Nepal's aggressive bowling and early breakthroughs, missed fielding opportunities and a lack of substantial partnerships with the bat cost them dearly. The Netherlands' calculated approach and steady batting handed them a comfortable 6-wicket victory.
This win propels the Netherlands to a strong position in Group D, while Nepal needs to reassess and bounce back in their next match to stay in the competition.