Netherlands secure six-wicket win over Nepal in T20 World Cup clash

The Netherlands secured a convincing six-wicket victory against Nepal in match number seven of the 2024 T20 World Cup held at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Tuesday.

Chasing a modest 107-run target, the Dutch batsmen chased down the total comfortably in the 19th over, led by a solid unbeaten knock of 54 runs from 48 balls by Max O'Dowd. 

Nepal's batting, however, struggled to gain momentum throughout their innings. Early wickets of Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel set them back, with both falling prey to Tim Pringle and Logan van Beek respectively. 

While skipper Rohit Paudel (35 runs) offered some resistance, wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals. Gulsan Jha (14 runs) and Karan KC (17 runs) provided minor contributions lower down the order, but Nepal could only manage a total of 106 runs before being bowled out in the 20th over.

The Netherlands' bowling attack shone, with Tim Pringle (2/20) and Logan van Beek (3/18) leading the way. Paul van Meekeren (2/19) and Bas de Leede (2/22) also chipped in with crucial wickets, ensuring Nepal never truly threatened to post a competitive score.

This victory gives the Netherlands a strong start to their T20 World Cup campaign, while Nepal will be looking to bounce back in their next match.