The Netherlands 110/5 in 16.1 overs ( Myburgh 31, Eric Szwarczynski 21; Regmi 3/12) vs Nepal 107/7 in 20 overs (Gyanendra 44, Bhandari 29; Bukhari 3/15)
Nepal lost it second game of the ICC T20 Qualifiers, losing today’s match to Netherlands by 5 wickets. The loss has serious dented Nepal’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup with top place finish in group B. Netherlands with that win are at the top of the table with 4 wins from 5 matches, while Nepal are on third with 3 wins from 5.
Nepali looked scrawny with bat and barely crossed hundred in the first innings-posting 107/7 in the 20 overs. Malla top scored for Nepal with slow 44 with just one four and a six. The Netherlands then chased the target in the second ball of 17th over.
Knowing Nepal did not do so well chasing Netherland captain Peter Borren after winning the toss put Nepal to bat first. After 2 good overs for Nepal Mudassar Bukhari started the troubles for Nepal getting Sagar Pun for 6 in the second over.He put Nepali team on the back foot the next over with a wicket maiden in the 4th over. Subash Khakurel who was looking in great touch with some delightful shots was out to an unplayable delivery by Bukhari caught at slips for 10.
Paras Khada and Gyanendra Malla then tried to consolidate, attempting only singles as the run rate plummeted to just around 4 runs an over. The troubles deepened for Nepal as Khadka was out getting stumped while trying to heave chinaman Rippon over mid wicket.
Nepal were 39/3 at end of 10 overs and got past 50 only in the 12th over. Bhandari and Malla then over compensated with defense and added just 60 runs in the next 10 overs. Malla was eventually out for 44 off 55 balls. Bhandari who made 26 off 29 fell in the last over. Nepal managed just 11 runs from the last two overs losing 4 wickets.
Defending small total Paras opened the bowling for Nepal and gave away just 5 runs. He was the first to strike for Nepal getting rid of Barresi for 11.
Stephen Myburgh lead the chase for Netherland as with 31 of 21 balls. He scored five fours and six in his innings. All 5 off those fours came of Amrit Bhattarai’s 2 overs. Bhattarai who had looked impressive with ball in last two matches went for 24 runs in his two overs. Myburgh eventully fell to Basanta Regmi in his first over as Sagar Pun completed a tough catch diving forward. Dutch had 45 runs on board then.
The Dutch players found Basanta pretty hard to deal with. Van Bunge was second of Basanta victims who missed bowled after, he missed an arm ball, for 11. Shakti Gauchan then brought hopes back to Nepali camp as he got rid of Micheal Swart for just 3. Netherlands now 4 down still needed 47 more to win. Peter Borren and Eric Szwarczynski then added 31 runs for the fifth wicket. Borren was eventually out to Basanta for 17.
Eric and Ben Cooper added the remaining runs together. With just 4 runs to win Cooper finished the game in style for the Netherlands hitting Paras Khadka ‘s ball out of Sharjah Cricket Stadium for probably the biggest six of the tournament.
Basanta finished the match with 3 wickets for 12 runs with his 12 overs. Jitendra who was brought only in the 14th over bowled was impressive with his Yorkers once again as he gave just 9 runs from his two overs.
Nepal takes on Afghanistan in the next match. Afghanistan are are currently placed second in the table with 6 points from 4 matches.
The Netherlands 110/5 in 16.1 overs ( Myburgh 31, Eric Szwarczynski 21; Regmi 3/12) vs Nepal 107/7 in 20 overs (Gyanendra 44, Bhandari 29; Bukhari 3/15)
Man of the Match : Bukhari 3/15.
