KATHMANDU, Aug 15: A fourth-wicket partnership of 118 runs between skipper Paras Khadka and Sagar Pun guided Nepal to  19 runs victory over host Netherlands in the second match of the fourth round of the ICC World Cricket League Championship on Monday.

Two days after facing a humiliating seven-wicket defeat from the same opponent at the VRA Ground in Amstelveen, Netherlands, Nepal was able to avenge the defeat and also end the Netherlands’ undefeated run in the tournament in the eighth match.

Put to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal posted 217/9 in the allotted 50 overs and bowled out the host Netherlands for 198 with nine balls to spare.

Skipper Paras who came in number four cracked 84 runs off 94 deliveries to consolidate Nepali innings that lost wickets in regular interval after put to bat first. Paras hit seven fences and a six.

Paras got convincing support at the other end from all-rounder Sagar Pun who played a patient knock of 45 from 78 deliveries. Sagar hit two boundaries and contributed to 118-run partnership with Paras before the later was caught by Roelof van der Merwe in 43.4 over.

[Photo Courtesy: Raman Siwakoti]

With third win from eight matches, Nepal sits on fifth place along with Kenya in the standings. Kenya however has played two matches less than Nepal in the eight-team contest being played under double round robin format. The top four finishers at the end of the contest will earn ticket for the 2019 ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

Earlier, Nepal had a shaky start losing its opener Anil Mandal for five runs and Sharad Vesawkar for six. But other opener Gyanendra Malla showed some resistance with 39 runs off 52 balls before he was sent back to the pavilion in 19.2 over.

Binod Bhandari contributed 17 runs as Nepal lost other batsmen Raju Rijal (0), Sompal Kami (2) and Basant Regmi (4) cheaply. Shakti Gauchan and Sandip Lamichhane remained unbeaten for three and two runs.

Michael Rippon was the pick of the Netherlands bowlers with four wickets under his belt while Ahsan Malik bagged two wickets. Rippon conceded 35 runs in his six-over spell. Malik gave away 34 runs in his nine-over bowling with a maiden over.

Nepal made a sound start in bowling, taking three wickets for 21 runs in 7.3 over. Paras made the breakthrough as he had a hand in sending opener Stephan Myburgh back to the pavilion in 3.5 over. He was caught by Raju Rijal. The other opener Michael Rippon was caught in 4.5 over by Paras off Sompal. Wesley Barriesi became the third victim of Nepal after he was caught by Raju in a delivery by Paras.

But the fourth-wicket partnership between Max O'Dowd (35) and Roelof van der Merwe (56) emerged as a threat to Nepal. The duo shared 82-run partnership before the latter was bowled by teenager Sandip. Max was stumped in a delivery by spinner Shakti Gauchan.  Merwe hit four fours and a six facing 61 deliveries.

Number six batsman Tim Gruijters was yet another big scorer for the host. He contributed 44 off 60 before he was bowled by Basant Regmi.  Tim Van der Gugten, who contributed 36 off 30 runs, was caught by Binod Bhandari off Sompal Kami.

Nepali bowlers Sompal, Paras and Basanta pocketed two wickets each while Shakti, Sandeep and Sagar grabbed one wicket each.

 
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