Sports
Nepal-Dutch match ends in no result
Rain played spoilsports on Sunday as the much-anticipated Twenty20 tri-series match between Nepal and the Netherlands at the Lord’s ended in a no-result.Rain played spoilsports on Sunday as the much-anticipated Twenty20 tri-series match between Nepal and the Netherlands at the Lord’s ended in a no-result.
The persistent rain earlier forced two matches—Nepal vs Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Netherlands vs MCC—to a six-over affairs. The third and final match of the day was rescheduled as the 18-over clash but it was rained off with Netherlands in strong position at 174-4 in 16.4 overs.
Wesley Barresi had scored a fiery 44 off 24 balls and Ryan ten Doeschate 38 off 27. Michael Rippon and Scott Edwards appeared to post a massive total on the board when rain intervened to end the match prematurely. Rippon was batting at 38 off 22 and Edwards 34 from 14 deliveries. Sompal Kami, Basanta Regmi and Karan KC took one wicket each for Nepal. With both Nepal and the Netherlands gaining the One-Day International (ODI) status, the match had been recognised at the T20 international. For Netherlands, this was their first T20 International at Lord’s since the 2009 World T20, where they pulled off one of their greatest triumphs against England.
Earlier in the first match, Netherlands beat MMC by 10 runs having posing 72-3 in six overs. Tobias Visee struck a whirlwind 58, his 23- ball unbeaten knock included five sixes and four boundaries. MCC could only muster 62-2 in reply with Varun Chopra scoring 27 and former England Test international Jonathan Trott making 21.
MCC returned immediately to the ground to take on Nepal with former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene leading the side. But MCC could only post a paltry 40-4 in six overs with Jayawardene, opening the bat with Trott, stranded at 24 not out. Sompal Kami took two and Shakti Gauchan claimed one wicket for Nepal.
Nepal completed the chase for the loss of one wicket in 4.4 overs. Subash Khakurel scored an unbeaten 16 and Gyanendra Malla made 12 not out. Nepal were returning to the Lord’s after playing against the MCC two years ago in a match that marked the 200-year relationship between Nepal and the UK.
Nepal now head for the Netherlands for the historic two-match ODI series against the hosts, set for August 1 and 3. It will be Nepal first ODI match since gaining the coveted status after an eighth-place finish in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe this year. The Netherlands had last hosted Nepal two years ago in a World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) matches with both recorded as List A games.