Netherlands cruises past Nepal in ICC CWC League 2 showdown, seals victory by eight wickets

KATHMANDU: The finale of the ICC CWC League 2 tri-nations ODI series witnessed a dominant performance by the Netherlands as they clinched victory over Nepal by eight wickets.

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss at the TU Cricket Ground, the Netherlands efficiently restricted Nepal to a total of 172 runs.

In their pursuit of the target, the Netherlands showcased their batting prowess, achieving the winning total with just two wickets down in 37.5 overs.

Key contributions came from Vikramjitt Singh, who notched up a stellar half-century with 58 runs, supported by SA Engelbrecht, M Levitt, and MP O'Down with 46, 39, and 28 runs respectively.

Despite efforts from Nepal's Lalit Rajbanshi and Dipendra Singh Airee, who secured one wicket each, the Netherlands maintained their dominance throughout the match.

Earlier in the first innings, Nepal's batting was led by Kushal Bhurtel's impressive eighth ODI half-century, alongside valuable contributions from Karan KC, Aarif Sheikh, and Rohit Poudel.

Standout bowling performances from VJ Kingma and Aryan Dutt, who claimed three wickets each, ensured the Netherlands' victory in this gripping encounter.