Kushal, Anil, Aasif star as Nepal drub Dutch

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Feb 17, 2024

An abysmal batting performance from the Netherlands in their first match of the ICC Men’s CWC League 2 on Saturday paved the way for Nepal’s comprehensive nine-wicket win at TU International Cricket Ground.

Nepal decided to bowl first and restricted the visitors to narrow 137 runs in 39 overs. Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, and Anil Kumar Sah, all scored over 120 and completed the task in 15.2 overs.

The Dutch side lost two wickets early with the score reeling at 18-2 in 6 overs. Sybrand Engelbrecht (23) and Bas De Leede (27) tried to steady the visitor’s innings but the former’s dismissal ended a partnership worth 28, the second-highest of the innings.

Noah Croes (12) and Scott Edwards stitched the highest partnership with a 30-run-stand for the fifth wicket after Lalit Rajbanshi (2-32) sent back De Leede with probably the ball of the event thus far. There was no resistance from the lower order after that as the Netherlands lost their last six wickets for the addition of only 40 runs.

Edwards top-scored for the losing side with 49-ball 33 leasing with a boundary.

Kushal Bhurtel, who was playing his 50th One Day International match, returned his career-best bowling figure before smashing a quick-fire 11-ball 28 in the chase. He returned the match-winning bowling figures of 4-20 in his 7 overs.

Anil and Aasif added an unbroken century (105) stand to finish things off early. Anil scored 57 not out of 36 balls hitting six boundaries and four sixes. Aasif slammed eight fours and a six for his unbeaten 45-ball 54.