Tri-nation T20:Nepal loses to Netherlands despite Bhurtel’s 62

KATHMANDU, April 21: Nepal lost to the Netherlands by 3 wickets in a match played under the Tri-nation T20 cricket series at Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Tuesday. 

In the match played with no spectators owing to the growing risk of CVID-19 , the hosts  failed to defend a formidable total of 206 runs.

Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal posted a target of 207 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. Opener Kushal Bhurtel continued his fine form, scoring his third consecutive half century. Kushal scored 62 runs off 46 balls while Dipendra Singh Aire added 60 in 30 balls. Likewise, Sompal Kami, captain Gyandendra Malla and Kushal Malla contributed 21, 20 and 18 runs respectively. For the Dutch team, Pieter Seelaar and Vivian Kingma took 2 wickets each. 

Chasing the target, the Netherlands surpassed the Nepali total in 19.3 overs at the loss of 7 wickets. Bas de Leede and Ben Cooper scored 89 and 55 runs respectively to take their team home, and avenge the defeat in the inaugural match. Nepal had defeated the Netherlands by 9 wickets in the opening match of the series. Leede also won the man-of-the-match award.

Nepali leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane took 4 wickets for Nepal while Karan KC, Abinash Bohara and Kushal Malla took one wicket each.

This is Nepal's first loss in the series. Earlier  Nepal registered victories against Netherlands and Malaysia.