By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Jun 05, 2025 03:53 AM • 108 views
Dundee, Scotland — Nepal continued their impressive run in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, securing a second straight win with a composed five-wicket victory over the Netherlands at the Forthill Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 226, Nepal showed maturity and control, reaching the total in 47.1 overs, guided by a composed half-century from middle-order mainstay Arif Sheikh. The 26-year-old right-hander delivered a crucial knock under pressure, anchoring the innings with a fluent 78 off 99 balls, laced with seven boundaries and two maximums.
It was a professional chase from Nepal, who built partnerships patiently and capitalized on a modest Dutch bowling effort. Dipendra Singh Airee chipped in with a steady 38 from 51 deliveries, while opener Kushal Bhurtel added 25. Skipper Rohit Paudel contributed a useful 23, and opener Aasif Sheikh made 19 before falling to a sharp catch.
Late-order cameos from Bhim Sharki and Gulshan Jha, both scoring 11, ensured Nepal crossed the line without panic, maintaining wickets in hand throughout the chase.
Earlier, the Netherlands won the toss and elected to bat but were pegged back by disciplined Nepali bowling. They were bundled out for 225 in 49.1 overs. Opener Max O'Dowd failed to get going, but the middle order offered some resistance. Noah Croes top-scored with 48, captain Scott Edwards added 46, while Vikramjit Singh and Jack Leen Kaste contributed 38 and 27, respectively.
Nepal's bowlers shared the spoils in an all-round performance. Veteran pacer Sompal Kami led the attack with 3 for 37, while Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Lalit Rajbanshi each picked up two wickets, keeping the Dutch batters in check throughout the innings.
Michael Levitt was the pick of the bowlers for the Netherlands, claiming 2 for 43 in his 10 overs. Vivian Kingma and Paul van Meekeren managed a wicket apiece but lacked the sting to break Nepal's partnerships consistently.
With this victory, Nepal now sits seventh in the League 2 standings with 10 points from 14 matches — gaining momentum midway through the campaign. The Netherlands, despite the defeat, remain second with 26 points from 21 outings, while hosts Scotland sit fourth with 20 points from 17 games.
Each of the seven teams in the League 2 structure is set to play 36 matches, with the top four sides earning direct passage to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. The remaining teams will be pushed into the play-off pathway, where qualification becomes increasingly tricky.
For Nepal, the journey to the World Cup remains a steep climb — but back-to-back wins suggest belief is growing.
