Nepal’s national cricket team, currently on tour of the Netherlands, will play two 50-over matches against the hosts on Saturday and Monday.

This will be the third time that the two sides play each other at the ICC-recognised List A level (neither of the teams has ODI status).  Here we look at the two matches the sides have played against one another.

Looking at the stats, one can see that the story has been pretty even so far, with the Dutch claiming more wickets than the Nepalis. Although two matches are not enough to generalise, the Dutch, used to playing on fast wickets, definitely have more fire power in their bowling than the Nepalis.

 Match #1

This match was played in New Zealand’s Mount Maunganui, and was part of the ICC World Cup Qualifier. While the Nepali squad was pitted in Group A, the Dutch were placed in Group B. While Nepal lost all its group stage matches, the Netherlands won two and lost two. At the end of the group stage, the Dutch finished second from last while Nepal finished at the bottom. The Nepal-Netherlands encounter was set as ‘semi-final’ to the seventh place title.

Winning the toss, the Dutch decided to take the field first, well aware of Nepal’s inexperience of posting a big target when batting first. But the day belonged to the Netherlands’ right-arm pacer Ashan Malik. He not only claimed Paras Khadka’s wicket, but also dismissed Sharad Vesawkar and Binod Bhandari.

Nepal did manage to play its allotted 50 overs, but its bowlers did not get enough runs to defend. The Netherlands’ Peter Borren played a captain’s knock and remained unbeaten on 45. The Dutch wrapped up the game with 109 balls to spare.

The Dutch finished the tournament in the 7th place, Nepal in the 9th. The Dutch were relegated to WCL Division II, Nepal to Division III.

Match #2

The second match between the two sides was played in Namibia as part of the ICC World Cricket League Division II.

It was the Dutch who won the toss. But this time, they decided to bat first. The Dutch opener Myburgh was retired hurt in the first few overs, and was replaced by Szwarczynski. But this time, the danger man was the all-rounder Michael Rippon, who occupied the crease for a long time. He faced 117 balls to make his restrained half century, after ascertaining that keeping wickets intact for the final overs was more important than getting runs. He stayed at the crease till the 49th over, as wickets tumbled at the other end. The Dutch side made 158.

Nepal’s openers Subash Khakurel and Naresh Budhayir tried to play a restrained innings. Khakurel faced 51 balls for his 15 and Budhayir 5, before getting caught for 1. It was again Malik and Bukhari who meted out the most damage. A cameo of an innings from Sompal Kami, who came in at number nine, helped Nepal crawl past the finish line. Sharad, aka Mr Finisher, remained unbeaten.

At the end of the tournament, both teams were promoted to Division I.