KATHMANDU: The final cricket match of the Tri-Nation Series between home team Nepal and the Netherlands is underway at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.
Invited to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal is batting against the Netherlands. Nepal has notched up 56 runs in six overs at the cost of one wicket. Opener Aasif Sheikh was out for 16.
Except a three-wicket defeat it faced at the hands of the Netherlands, Nepal has won all the other three matches out of the four it played in the ongoing T20 series. It had lost to the Netherlands after it could not defend its mammoth-207 run target due to poor performance on the bawling side.
Except for this bitter loss, Nepal has defeated the Netherlands in its first match and Malaysia in the second match by equal nine wickets. Besides, Nepal has defeated Malaysia with a wide difference of 69 runs in the second meeting of the series.
Unlike in in the previous matches where Nepal’s strength was marked in its bawling, Nepal has performed brilliantly on the batting side, too, this time. In all the four matches, Nepal was not bowled out. Kushal Bhurtel, who debuted in this series, made a mark with 201 runs, scoring a half-century three times. Similarly, Aasif Sheikh made 138 runs including a half-century. But, to the misfortune to Nepal, Aasif was bowled out cheafly.
In the latest match, Sandeep Lamichhane took three wickets giving away 20 runs while Kamal Singh Airee performed brilliantly while bowling, hinting that the title of the series will not slip away from Nepal’s hand.
Likewise, the Netherlands has won two, lost one and played a draw out of four matches it played. It is also aiming to clinch the title of the series.
Currently, Nepal is in the 15th position and the Netherlands in the 17th position in the ICC T20 ranking.
The Netherlands had dealt a blow to Nepal in their second meeting while chasing a 207-run target. Hence, Nepal should be more careful while bowling against the Netherlands. Nepal can ensure victory against the opponent only when it tackles batsmen Ben Cooper, Max O’Dowd, Bas De Leede. O’Dowd has scored a century with 133 runs followed by Ben Cooper with 129 runs in the ongoing series.
In a nutshell, Nepal can win the title of the series only when Kushal and Aasif renewed their excellent batting with the support of disciplined bawling by Lamichhane.
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