Kirtipur, Nepal: Heartbreak struck Nepal in the final match of the Namibia-Netherlands tri-series under the ICC World Cup League-2, as they fell to a convincing eight-wicket defeat against the Netherlands. The loss marked a disappointing culmination to a series that yielded only two points for Nepal from four matches.

Despite earlier triumphs over Namibia, Nepal’s hopes were dashed by two defeats against the Netherlands, leaving them clinging to the bottom of the standings. Conversely, the Netherlands emerged triumphant, securing their second victory and four points from the series. However, their campaign had its hiccups as they stumbled against Namibia in their second encounter, showcasing their own inconsistencies.

Chasing Nepal’s modest target of 173, set at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, the Netherlands, exhibited ruthless efficiency. Led by the rock-solid Bikramjit Singh, who remained unbeaten on 58 from 92 balls, they cruised to victory with only two wickets lost. Sybrand Engelbrecht (46* not out) provided crucial support, while Michael Levitt (39) and Max O’Dowd (28) laid the early foundation with a 61-run opening stand. The Netherlands’ batting masterclass was epitomized by Singh and Engelbrecht’s unwavering 102-run partnership for the third wicket, extinguishing any hopes of a Nepal comeback.

Earlier, Nepal, when put into bat, could only muster 172 runs before being dismissed in 49.3 overs. Opener Kushal Bhurtel scored a gritty 66, marking his eighth ODI fifty. Contributions from Karan KC (26), Arif Sheikh (22), Asif Sheikh (17), and captain Rohit Kumar Paudel (16) bolstered the total, but Nepal’s middle order failed to capitalize after a promising start by Bhurtel and Asif (42-run partnership). The Netherlands’ bowling attack shared the spoils effectively, with Aryan Dutt and Vivian Kingma claiming three wickets each, while Bas de Lide and Rolof van der Marwe chipped in with two and one wickets, respectively.

Nepal’s defeat leaves much to ponder as they look to improve their standing in the World Cup League-2. While the Netherlands celebrate a well-deserved series win, their inconsistent performances remind them that they, too, have work to do before the more significant challenges ahead.