Kathmandu, June 5
In a disappointing start to their ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Nepal suffered a 6-wicket defeat against the Netherlands in their first group match. The match took place at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
Nepal, having won the toss, chose to bat first but struggled against a disciplined Dutch bowling attack. They were all out for 106 runs in 19.2 overs. Despite the early setback, Nepal aimed to make a strong comeback with their bowling.
In reply, the Netherlands successfully chased the target, reaching 107 runs in 18.4 overs with 4 wickets down. Dutch opener Max O’Dowd was the standout performer, scoring an unbeaten 54 runs off 48 balls, including 4 fours and 1 six. Contributions from Bikramjit Singh (22 runs) and Sybrand Engelbrecht (14 runs) bolstered the Dutch innings, while Bas de Leede remained not out with 11 runs.
For Nepal, bowlers Sompal Kami, Dipendra Singh Airee, and Abinash Bohara each took one wicket, but their efforts were not enough to restrict the Netherlands.
Upcoming Matches
Nepal, placed in Group ‘D’, will face Sri Lanka in their next match on June 12 in Florida. Following this, Nepal will travel to the West Indies to play against South Africa on June 15 and Bangladesh on June 17.
Sri Lanka also had a tough start, losing their opening match to South Africa by 6 wickets, having been all out for just 77 runs.
Cricket analyst Ravi Timilsina commented on Nepal’s situation, stating, “Nepal has nothing to lose. Players will play to make a name in World Cup cricket. We can still turn the results against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in our favour. The match against Sri Lanka will be crucial. Therefore, attention should be paid to that match.”
As Nepal prepares for their upcoming fixtures, fans remain hopeful for a turnaround in their T20 World Cup journey.
