The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 continued in dramatic fashion at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, with Netherlands edging out Nepal by six wickets in a tense Group D encounter.
Netherlands chase anchored by Max O’Dowd
A packed crowd witnessed a brilliant display from Dutch opener Max O’Dowd, whose unbeaten half-century (54* from 48 balls) proved to be the cornerstone of the Netherlands’ victory.
O’Dowd’s calm and composed innings steered his team through a couple of wobbly periods and secured a win with seven balls to spare.
Nepal restricted to modest total
Earlier, Nepal’s batsmen struggled against a disciplined Netherlands bowling attack. The only bright spark for Nepal was their captain, Rohit Paudel, who managed a valiant 35 runs off 37 deliveries.
The rest of the batting order failed to capitalize, and Nepal were eventually bowled out for a meagre 106 runs. Logan van Beek was the pick of the Dutch bowlers, claiming three wickets for just 18 runs in his 3.2 overs.
Thrilling Netherlands chase with nervy moments
Despite a shaky start that saw Nepal dismiss Michael Levitt in the second over, O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh (22 runs) steadied the Dutch innings with a crucial 40-run partnership. Sybrand Engelbrecht’s handy knock of 14 runs from 16 balls further eased the pressure and brought the target within reach.
While Nepal’s bowlers, particularly Sompal Kami (1/18) and Abinash Bohara (1/29), chipped away with wickets, O’Dowd remained unfazed, anchoring the chase and guiding his team to victory. Bas de Leede provided the finishing touches with a winning boundary, securing a vital win for the Netherlands.
NED vs NEP: Match of two halves
The match began with a rain delay, raising concerns about a reduced-overs contest. However, the weather cleared, and Netherlands captain Scott Edwards opted to bowl first after winning the toss.
Their decision proved to be a good one, as the Dutch bowlers restricted Nepal’s scoring opportunities throughout the powerplay. Openers Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel were dismissed cheaply, setting the tone for a challenging innings for Nepal. While Gulsan Jha (14 runs) and Karan KC (17 runs) provided some late resistance, Nepal could only manage a below-par total.
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Crucial Group D Encounters in T20 World Cup
This victory gives Netherlands a crucial advantage in a tightly contested Group D. South Africa and Netherlands currently occupy the qualifying spots, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh round out the competitive five-team group. Nepal will look to bounce back when they face Sri Lanka in their next match on Wednesday 12th June.
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