Glasgow, June 19, 2025 – In a riveting contest of the T20I Tri-Series, Nepal edged past the Netherlands by six wickets with just two balls to spare, successfully chasing down a target of 175 in a high-scoring thriller.
Despite a stellar knock by Dutch opener Michael Levitt, who was deservedly named Player of the Match for his brilliant 86 off 53 balls, the Netherlands’ total of 174/7 wasn’t enough to stop a spirited Nepalese run chase. Levitt’s innings, laced with 6 fours and 5 sixes, anchored the Dutch innings after early wickets fell in the powerplay.
Nepal’s response was swift and calculated. Kushal Bhurtel led the way with a classy 65 off 51 balls, providing a solid platform at the top. He was well-supported by Bhim Sharki (27 off 16) and Aarif Sheikh, who contributed a quickfire 39 off 23 before retiring hurt with the finish line in sight.
Captain Rohit Paudel and opener Aasif Sheikh fell cheaply, but the middle-order held strong. With 7 needed off the final over, Lokesh Bam struck two sixes in four balls to seal the win emphatically, finishing with 12 not out off just 4 balls.
From the bowling front, Netherlands’ spin veteran Roelof van der Merwe stood out with 1/22 in 4 overs, but the rest of the attack proved expensive under pressure. Nepal’s bowlers earlier shared wickets evenly, with Karan KC, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Rupesh Singh each claiming a scalp.
Nepal’s innings saw key momentum shifts, especially in the powerplay where they raced to 60/1 in 6 overs and maintained the chase with a run rate of over 9 throughout.
With this victory, Nepal boosts its position in the T20I Tri-Series standings and continues to demonstrate its growing prowess on the international stage.
Match Summary:
- Netherlands: 174/7 (Michael Levitt 86, van der Merwe 36; Karan KC 2/40)
- Nepal: 180/4 in 19.4 overs (Bhurtel 65, Aarif Sheikh 39*; van der Merwe 1/22)
- Result: Nepal won by 6 wickets
- Player of the Match: Michael Levitt (Netherlands)
