Unbeaten 54 off 48 balls by Max O’Dowd, led Netherlands to a six-wicket win over Nepal in a T20 World Cup Group D match at the Grand Prairie Stadium on Tuesday.
In 18.4 overs, the Dutch chased down the target of 107 runs with Bas de Leede hitting the winning boundary. Singh scored 22 runs while Engelbrecht had 14.
Nepal’s chances were hampered by three dropped catches, including captain Rohit Paudel missing O’Dowd in the eighteenth over.
The previous match saw them bowl out Nepal for just 106, with Logan Van Beek and Tim Pringle both picking up three wickets each. Paul van Meekeren and de Leede took two wickets apiece.
“Bowlers were amazing up top,” said Scott Edwards, Netherlands captain speaking later.
“All five of our bowlers bowled outstandingly well. We would have liked more runs but we did well with Max batting that way and Bassie finishing it off.”
“We have to play consistent cricket right way through this tournament.”
Struggling in damp and overcast conditions after losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Nepal found themselves at 15-2 after Pringle sent Sah back for a turtle crawl inning of eleven runs; however they got past hundred mark when Sah was caught behind by van Beek.
“When we batted, it was really hard for us because of challenging conditions,” Paudel added as he walked out leading his team onto the field.
Paudel scored a quick fire thirty five from thirty seven balls but lost partners rapidly among his fellow middle order batsmen. Malla Kushal, Airee Dipendra Singh and Kami Sompal all fell one after another to leave Nepal struggling on sixty six for six after thirteen point two overs
From there till Pringle dispatched Paudel also, it was not long for the last three wickets.
