KATHMANDU, June 5: Nepal began their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with a six-wicket defeat to the Netherlands. As the dust settles, here are five key takeways from Nepal’s tournament opener against the Dutch:

Unfortunate Toss to Lose

Nepal were sent in to bat first on a wicket with a slight green top under overcast conditions. The inexperienced Nepali batters struggled to negotiate these conditions, and the Netherlands quickly put Nepal on the back foot within the first few overs.

Both openers, Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel, were dismissed inside the powerplay. Meanwhile, Rohit Paudel and Anil Sah looked uncomfortable against a spirited Dutch bowling attack. The Netherlands never allowed Nepal to settle, forcing the Rhinos to chase the game from the very beginning.

Lack of Temperament

As soon as Dutch captain Scott Edwards won the toss and chose to bowl first, it was clear that the Netherlands intended to exploit the conditions and expose Nepal’s vulnerability against pace. While the Netherlands had a clear plan, Nepal failed to counter the Dutch threat effectively. Apart from captain Rohit Paudel, none of the batters spent significant time at the crease. The batters seemed completely out of sorts, failing to impose any pressure on the Netherlands.

Scott Edwards and the Flying Dutchmen

The Netherlands executed their plan to trouble the Nepali batters perfectly. Vivian Kingma's hostile pace was complemented by Tim Pringle's lethal left-arm off-spin. The Kingma-Pringle combination troubled the Nepali batters throughout their spells. As the game progressed, pacers Logan Van Beek, Bas de Leede, and Paul van Meekeren continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals. None of the Dutch bowlers conceded over 6 RPO, showcasing their dominance over the Nepali batters.

The Dutch were excellent in the field as well. While Nepal dropped two regulation catches at crucial moments, the Netherlands' fielders supported their bowlers with outstanding fielding. The Netherlands outclassed Nepal in all three departments.

Nepali Bowlers Leave No Stones Unturned

Defending a modest total of 106, the Nepali bowlers gave their best effort. A tight opening spell by Karan KC and Sompal Kami resulted in Michael Levitt falling to Kami. However, Nepal’s fielding let them down, with Sompal dropping Vikramjit and captain Rohit Paudel dropping Max O’Dowd when the pressure was mounting on the Netherlands.

By the time Nepal was bowling, batting conditions had improved, but had a few things gone their way, Nepal could have made the chase more challenging for the Dutch batters.

Upcoming Sri Lanka Challenge

Nepal didn’t get the start they had hoped for. With upcoming matches against three Test nations—Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Bangladesh—the Rhinos will need to improve in all three departments to pose any threats.

Nepal will face Sri Lanka on June 12. Both teams underperformed with the bat in their opening matches and will be looking to secure their first win in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka boasts a lethal bowling attack with mystery bowlers who can cause significant trouble. Nepali batters need to find their rhythm quickly if they are to secure their first victory in the tournament.

 
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