Pic Courtesy: ANI
Kirtipur (Nepal), March 5 (IANS) The Netherlands emerged victorious in the tri-nation series final on Tuesday, defeating Nepal by four wickets in a thrilling encounter at the TU International Cricket Ground. Chasing Nepal’s imposing total of 185, the Netherlands displayed remarkable resilience and determination, reaching 189/6 with just four wickets in hand to clinch the title in a gripping finish.
Opener Michael Levitt spearheaded the Dutch innings with an impressive knock of 54 runs off 29 balls, well-supported by middle-order batsman Sybrand Engelbrecht, who contributed 48 runs from 29 deliveries.
Nepal, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, posted a competitive score of 184/8. Opener Ashif Sheikh provided a solid start with a brisk 47 off 37 balls. However, despite commendable performances from Gulshan Jha (34 off 24), Kushal Malla (26 off 11), and captain Rohit Paudel (25 off 19), Nepal lost momentum in the death overs, losing four crucial wickets in quick succession.
The Netherlands’ bowling attack, led by Fred Klaassen (2-37), Timm van der Gugten (2-29), Michael Levitt (2-35), and Sybrand Engelbrecht (2-14), played a pivotal role in restricting Nepal’s scoring opportunities and securing vital breakthroughs.
Despite Nepal’s strong performances in the series, the Netherlands’ clinical display in the final secured their dominance in the Tri-Nation T20I Series, topping the points table with five points from four games. Nepal settled for the runner-up position with four points, while Namibia finished third with three points.
Brief scores:
Nepal 184/8 in 20 overs (Aasif Sheikh 47, Gulshan Jha 34; Sybrand Engelbrecht 2-14, Fred Klaassen 2-37) lost to Netherlands 189/6 in 19.3 overs (Michael Levitt 54, Sybrand Engelbrecht 48; Kushal Malla 4-33, Dipendra Singh Airee 1-16) by four wickets.
