Kathmandu, June 24
Nepal have crashed out of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier after being beaten by the Netherlands by seven wickets at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare on Saturday.
In what was a do-or-die match in the qualifier, Nepal were put out to bat by the Netherlands who immediately reaped the rewards as they sent Aasif Sheikh back in for a duck.
Kushal Bhurtel and Bhim Sharki did well to negate the opening hour but got out after getting in as Nepal were reduced to 66 for four.
Nepali batters were once again poor against short balls as the Netherlands took advantage of their weakness. Kushal Malla got out trying to take the game to the Netherlands while Rohit Paudel was caught trying to pull.
With the top and middle order not scoring, the lower order tried but the Netherlands reduced Nepal to only 167.
Logan van Beek was superb with the ball as he took four wickets for only 24 runs while Bas de Leede and Vikramjeet Singh took two wickets each. Aryan Dutta and Clayton Floyd took one wicket each.
In reply, the Netherlands made short work of the total as they came out all guns blazing. Nepal were hoping to get some purchase of the pitch for the spinners but some blistering hitting from Max O’Dowd, who scored 90, took the game away from Nepal very quickly as the Netherlands beat Nepal by seven wickets with 137 balls to spare.
With this, the Netherlands have booked a place in the super six of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier along with the West Indies and Zimbabwe from Group A.
Nepal have once again crashed out of the group stages of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Nepal will next take on India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup.
