Nepal vs Netherlands Cricket Thrill

In Nepal vs Netherlands Cricket Match Nepal gave cricket fans a thrilling 5-wicket win over the Netherlands in the 75th match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League Two 2023-27 at the Forthhill Cricket Ground in Dundee, Scotland on June 4, 2025. Chasing a target of 226 with 11 balls to spare and 1 wicket in hand, this win is a sign of a bright future for Nepali cricket. Karan KC’s heroism, Asif Sheikh’s consistency, and Rohit Poudel’s leadership made this match unforgettable.

Start of the match: Netherlands batting

After winning the toss, the Netherlands elected to bat first. The field fell silent after losing Michael Levitt for 1 run in the first over. Nepal’s fast bowler Sompal Kami took this wicket to put the Netherlands under pressure. Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh tried to maintain the second wicket by putting on 15 runs, but O’Dowd was out for 16 in 4.5 overs. From here, Scott Edwards and Vikramjit Singh took charge. Vikramjit’s wicket for 88 runs in 21.4 overs was taken by Sandeep Lamichhane, as Nepal regained control of the game.

Teja Nidamanuru and Jack Lyon Cassett took the score forward in the Dutch middle order, but Nepal’s bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Edwards was dismissed for 110 runs in 26.1 overs, and Cassett’s wicket fell for 143 runs in 32.5 overs. Karan KC showed his magic here, putting pressure on the lower order batsmen. The Netherlands were in trouble after losing the sixth wicket for 159 runs in 37.3 overs and the seventh wicket for 166 runs in 38.3 overs.

However, the Netherlands’ lower order posed a challenge for Nepal. Noah Kroes and Roelof van der Merwe added 55 runs for the eighth wicket, taking the score to 221. Rain stopped play at 219/7 in 47.3 overs, and the crowd was in a state of tension. When play resumed, Nepal bundled out the Netherlands for 225 in 49.1 overs. Karan KC took 2 wickets, while Sandeep Lamichhane and Sompal Kami also picked up important wickets.

Nepal’s chase: An exciting journey

Chasing a target of 226, Nepal started confidently. Asif Sheikh, who is the top scorer in League Two with 274 runs, and Kusal Bhurtel got off to a solid start for the first wicket. However, the Dutch bowlers gave a shock in the middle order. Nepal lost 3 wickets as they approached 100 runs, and the hearts of the crowd increased. Captain Rohit Poudel led the team with a restrained batting, but the real hero of the match was Karan KC.

Karan came out to bat in the 15th over, when Nepal needed more than 100 runs. He showed restraint at first, but adopted an aggressive style in the last 5 overs. In his unbeaten innings of 65 runs off 41 balls, he hit 4 sixes and 3 fours. With 12 runs needed in the last over, Karan took the game to the last ball with two big sixes. With 1 run needed off the last ball, he took Nepal to victory by taking a single. The atmosphere on the field became electric with the cheers of the spectators and the enthusiasm of the Nepali players. Karan KC was declared the ‘Player of the Match’.

Exciting moments of the match

Rain tension: Nepal fans were worried when the game was stopped due to rain in the 47.3rd over. The score for the Netherlands was 219/7, and the possibility of the Duckworth-Lewis rule being applied could have changed the pace of the game.

Karan’s bowling: Karan KC destroyed the Netherlands middle and lower order. His powerful yorker tore off Teja Nidamanuru’s stumps was unforgettable.

Asif’s consistency: Asif Sheikh contributed an early 50 runs to give Nepal a solid foundation for their chase. His one cover drive enthused the audience.

Last over thrill: Karan KC hit two sixes in the final over to a standing ovation from the fans. The joy of the Nepali team and the audience knew no bounds as the victory was secured on the last ball.

Importance of the match

The win highlighted Nepal’s growing influence in world cricket. Nepal, who are ranked seventh in League Two with 3 wins and 8 losses, gained confidence from this match. The win against the Netherlands has strengthened their path to World Cup 2027 qualification. However, fans took to social media to criticise Nepal for its weakness in giving away more than 50 runs to lower-order batsmen.

Upcoming Meeting

The next match between Nepal and Netherlands will be held in Dundee on June 10, 2025. After that, these teams will meet in a T20 triangular series in Glasgow on June 16 and 18, 2025. These matches will give Nepal an opportunity to further improve its performance.

Conclusion

This victory of Nepal is not just the result of a match, it is a story of the emerging power of Nepali cricket. Karan KC’s all-round performance, Asif Sheikh’s continuity, and Rohit Poudel’s leadership have taken Nepal to new heights in world cricket. Every moment of this match gave Nepali fans a sense of pride. Nepal is expected to continue this momentum in the upcoming matches and move forward on the path to World Cup qualification.