Sports
Nepal succumb to Dutch
Nepal’s European jinx continued as they succumbed to the Netherlands by seven wickets in first of the two fourth round matches of ICC World Cricket League Championship at the VRA Grounds in Amstelveen on Saturday.Binod Pandey
Nepal’s European jinx continued as they succumbed to the Netherlands by seven wickets in first of the two fourth round matches of ICC World Cricket League Championship at the VRA Grounds in Amstelveen on Saturday.
The loss was a setback for Nepal who are eyeing a spot in the top four spot of the eight-team event having opened their account with double victory against Namibia in the third round in April. Nepal are currently sixth with four points from seven matches, while Netherlands are firmly standing atop with 12 points from seven. The second match is set for Monday.
The result means Nepal’s official tour of Europe continued to disappoint with their 11th loss in the continent over the last one year. In their tour of Europe last year, Nepal had recorded only two victories in 13 matches. One of their victories was against the Dutch in a four-match T20 International series which they lost 3-1. They had lost both of their first round matches against Scotland in Ayr and five games in the 2016 World Twenty20 Qualifiers.
Put in to bat, Nepal were folded for a paltry 94 in just 38.2 overs after Timm van der Gugten and Michael Rippon picked up three wickets each.
It was Nepal’s lowest total in List ‘A’ games eclipsing the 150 they had made against Hong Kong during the 2015 ICC World Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand. Netherlands reached 96-3 in 16.5 overs.
Nepal had a desired start when Karan KC had Rippon (six) caught by Sagar Pun in the fourth over but another opener Stephen Myburgh and Wesley Barresi kept the visitors at bay with a 57-run second wicket stand. Basanta Regmi bowled Barresi in the 13th over but by then the hosts were 25 runs away from an easy victory.
Myburgh did the rest remaining unbeaten on 33 off 41 with five boundaries. Sagar Pun also picked up a wicket for Nepal. Barresi also hit five fours in his 33-ball cameo.
Earlier, Nepal had a terrible start when they lost opener Gyanendra Malla (11) to van der Gugten after the ball rolled onto his stumps with the Nepali opener offering a defensive shot. Another opener Anil Mandal was next to go handing a return catch to Roelof van der Merwe, the all rounder who previously played for South Africa.
Mandal was the top scorer for Nepal with a 39-ball 20 that included a boundary. The middle order soon crumbled after skipper Paras Khadka was given a leg before to van der Merwe for a first-ball duck despite the batsman getting a clear inside edge. Sagar Pun (seven), Raju Rijal (three) and Binod Bhandari (nine) soon departed as Nepal’s score read 74-6 in 28.1 overs.
Nepal’s last hope was in-form middle order batsman Sharad Vesawkar but he fell to Mudassar Bukhari while chasing a wide ball before getting stumped by Barresi. Vesawkar was the next best scorer for Nepal making 14 in his sluggish 71-ball innings that had no boundary. Sompal Kami (12) was the only remaining Nepali batsman to make runs in double figures.
Summary
Netherlands 96-3 in 16.5 overs (W Barresi 35, S Myburgh 33 not out; K KC 1-18, S Pun 1-3) defeat Nepal 94 all out in 38.2 overs (Anil Mandal 20, S Vesawkar 14; T van der Gugten 3-21, M Rippon 3-21) by seven wickets