T20I : MATCH 2 OFF 7 : Nepal vs the Netherlands

28 Feb T20I : MATCH 2 OFF 7 : Nepal vs the Netherlands

In yet another thrilling T20I encounter, the Netherlands edged out Nepal by 2 runs and handed Nepal its second defeat in as many games of the tri-series. Here are the three key points from Nepal vs the Netherlands :

• So close, yet so far

Nepal came agonizingly close to chasing the mammoth target but fell short once again. Nepal had looked in control of the chase against Namibia too but was unable to finish off the innings. The tale repeated once again against the Dutch. 

Chasing a stiff total of 184, Nepal looked to be heading home until Dipendra Singh Airee was bowled in the final over by Roelof Van der Merwe. The run chase was spearheaded by Aasif Sheikh and Rohit Paudel with a partnership of 65 runs for the second wicket. The Dutch bowlers dragged back the game in their favor with the wickets of Aasif, Rohit, and Kushal Malla falling in quick succession. Dipendra Singh Airee shouldered the burden of winning the match for Nepal with the help of sporadic cameos from the tailenders. 

With 15 runs needed of the final six balls, Airee hit Van der Merwe for a four and a six in the first two deliveries. Just when things looked wrapped up for Nepal, Airee and Karan KC were involved in the run-out and Van der Merwe cleaned up Airee in the following delivery. The Dutch defended 5 runs of the final two balls and edged out Nepal in the thrilling contest by 2 runs. 

Getting closer to the win but failing to seal the victory hurts more than a thumping defeat.

• Another defeat at Kirtipur

Nepal faced yet another defeat at Kirtipur. Since the commencement of the WCL 2, Nepal has lost 5 of the 6 matches in all formats. The T20I encounters have been closely fought and Nepal came close to winning both matches but the home team has just a win to show off in the month of February, bar the ODI series against Canada.

The T20I tri-series eventual goal is to serve as the preparatory platform for the T20I World Cup and polish any weaknesses present in the Nepali squad. Nepal’s inability to finish off both the T20I encounters even after having the finishing line well in sight is concerning. In addition to these defeats, Nepal could not seal the victory against Oman in the final of the World Cup T20I qualifiers. Nepal’s inability to grab the game by the scruff of the neck is frustrating for the players as well as fans. The manner in which the opponents have found a way to sneak the victory under Nepal’s nose repeatedly has been hurting Nepal’s buildup phase for the World Cup.

• Improved death over bowling attack

After the annihilation by Loftie-Eaton, Nepal’s death over bowling attack regrouped and performed better against the Dutch. Nepal conceded 41 runs in the last five overs, a massive improvement from the 73 off the last five against Namibia. Dipendra Singh Airee, who bowled the 18th and the 20th overs, conceded just 10 runs in those two overs. Nepal’s approach in the death overs has been under scrutiny as regardless of the damage sustained throughout the innings, the opponents tend to back themselves to go big against Nepal’s attack in the final overs. With Nepal about to face some of the biggest hitters in the game in the T20I World Cup, Nepal needs to improve its collective bowling attack for the final phase of the inning.