Kathmandu: In a nail-biting showdown at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Nepal faced a gut-wrenching defeat of two runs at the hands of the Netherlands in the ongoing Twenty20 International Tri-Nation Series. The Dutch side showcased nerves of steel, snatching victory from the grasp of the Nepali team in the final over of the match.
This marks Nepal’s second loss of the series as they were defeated by Namibia on Tuesday by 20 runs.
Nepal, chasing a target of 185 runs set by the Netherlands, was on course for a victory as Dipendra Singh Airee unleashed a flurry of boundaries, smashing a six and a four off the first two deliveries of the decisive over. However, the tide quickly turned against the hosts as Karan KC got run out, and Airee fell victim to a brilliant delivery from Van Der Merwe.
With just five runs required from four balls, the Dutch bowlers held their nerve and delivered under pressure, ultimately sealing the fate of the match in their favor.
For Nepal, Dipendra Singh Airee and captain Rohit Paudel led the charge with impressive half-centuries. Airee’s blistering knock of 63 runs off 34 balls, supported by Paudel’s resilient 50 off 36 deliveries, had set the stage for a thrilling finish.
Earlier in the day, the Netherlands posted a competitive total of 184 runs, buoyed by a gritty half-century from Michale Levitt. Levitt’s aggressive batting, along with contributions from Scott Edwards and Teja Nidamanuru, propelled the visitors to a formidable score.
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