Nepal record historic victory, level ODI series

Kathmandu, August 3

Skipper Paras Khadka scored a half century and conceded just four runs in the last over as Nepal defeated the Netherlands by one run to register their maiden One Day International victory and levelled the two-match series 1-1 at the VRA Grounds in Amstelveen today.

Electing to bat first, Nepal were bowled out for 216 runs in 48.5 overs before packing the Dutchmen to 215 all out in the last ball of the match. Nepal, playing their first-ever ODI series, had faced a 55-run defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in their debut match on Wednesday.

The Netherlands needed six runs from the last over to win the match and Nepal skipper Paras Khadka decided to deliver the last six deliveries. After conceding four runs in the first five balls, Khadka ran Klaassen out in the last ball of the innings igniting a wild celebration.

Nepal posted the fighting total riding on half centuries from skipper Paras Khadka and Sompal Kami.

The team was heading towards a low total after being reduced to 88-5 inside 20 overs but the duo saved the team, especially Kami, batting at No 8, who not only revived the innings but also helped the team cross 200-run mark with his quick fire 61 off 46 balls that included five boundaries and three sixes.

Openers Gyanendra Malla (13) and Subash Khakurel failed to give a desired start with the bat and the former was the first to depart with 29 runs on the board. Anil Kumar Sah departed soon making it 34-2 and Khakurel was the next to go. Khakurel, who made his ODI debut along with Rohit Kumar Paudel and Lalit Singh Bhandari, struck three fours in his 33-ball 19.

Khadka and Dipendra Singh Airee added 25 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter fell for 19 off 17 balls that included three fours. Paudel (six) was dismissed cheaply in his ODI debut, while Khadka became the fifth wicket to fall but not before completing his half century. Khadka struck six fours and two sixes in his 69-ball 51 and became the second Nepal cricketer to scored a half century in ODI after his deputy Malla, who was the first-ever batsman to achieve the feat in Nepal’s debut match against the same team on Wednesday.

After Aarif Sheikh was dismissed for 16 runs, Kami shared an important 31-run partnership with Sandeep Lamichhane (eight) to take the team past 200-run mark.

Fred Klaassen was the pick of the Netherlands bowlers taking 3-38, while Michael Rippon and skipper Pieter Seelaar took two wickets each. Paul van Meekeren and Shane Snater took one wicket each.

Chasing a modest target, the home team came under early pressure when Kami bowled Stephan Myburgh for a duck in the second ball of the innings. Lalit Singh Bhandari reduced the hosts to 30-2 when he had Ben Cooper caught by Rohit Kumar Paudel in the eighth over.

Daniel ter Braak and Wesley Barresi revived the innings and took the match away from Nepal with a 84-run partnership for the third wicket. Sandeep Lamichhane struck twice in the space of three balls in the 29th over to bring the team back into the game. The legspinner trapped ter Braak (39) leg before the wicket in the fourth ball and wicketkeeper Subash Khakurel stumped Bas de Leede (naught) two balls later.

After Basant Regmi dismissed Rippon (three) in the 32nd over, Dipendra Singh Airee removed the dangerman Barresi, trapping him leg before for 71 off 89 balls that included eight fours. Bhandari them claimed his second wicket, dismissing Scott Edwards (nine), while skipper Khadka removed his Netherlands counterpart Pieter Seelaar to reduce the hosts to 179-8 in 43 overs.

Nepal sniffed historic victory when Lamichane bowled Shane Snater (12) in the 44th over but the last pair of Klaassen and Paul van Meekeren made Nepal wait until the last ball of the innings sharing 30 runs for the last wicket. Lamichhane returned with the figures of 3-41, while Bhandari took 2-43. Kami, Khadka, Regmi and Airee took one wicket each.

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