Kirtipur, Nepal: Nepal sent shockwaves through the cricketing world today, crushing the Netherlands by a convincing nine-wicket margin in the second ICC World Cup Cricket League 2 triangular series match. Played at the picturesque TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, the victory marked Nepal’s first in the series and was achieved with a clinical display of batting prowess.

Chasing a modest target of 138 runs set by the Dutch, Nepal’s openers wasted no time dismantling the bowling attack. Anil Kumar Sah unleashed a whirlwind innings, smashing 57 runs off just 36 deliveries in a knock peppered with six fours and four towering sixes. The left-hander tore into the bowling, leaving the Dutch bowlers helpless. Not to be outdone, Asif Shaikh played a composed hand, crafting an unbeaten 54 runs off 45 balls to anchor the chase. He found the boundary eight times and unleashed a mighty six of his own. The duo stitched together an unbeaten partnership of 105 runs for the second wicket, effectively shutting the door on any Dutch fightback.

Earlier, the Netherlands struggled after being put into bat. Their innings lacked the fluency they displayed against Namibia, and they were bundled out for 137 runs in 39 overs. Skipper Scott Edwards top-scored with 33 runs, while contributions from Bass de Liede (27) and Sybrand Engelbrecht (23) provided some resistance. However, Nepal’s bowling attack shone, with Kushal Bhurtel leading the way with a four-wicket haul for just 20 runs. Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Sompal Kami, and captain Rohit Paudel also chipped in with crucial wickets.

This emphatic victory is a huge confidence booster for Nepal, coming off a disappointing defeat to Namibia. It also throws the race for qualification wide open, with the Netherlands needing to bounce back quickly to stay in contention. The two teams will meet again on Wednesday in what promises to be another exciting encounter.