Nepal loses WT20I Triangular series opener to Netherlands by 20 runs

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 31: The women’s Twenty20 International Triangular Series began in Kathmandu with Nepal facing the Netherlands in the inaugural match on Thursday. This is the second T20I series Nepal has played on home soil, following a five-match series against Uganda in 2022.

Unfortunately for the hosts, they could not secure a victory and lost to the Dutch side by 20 runs. 

After winning the toss at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Nepal invited the Netherlands to bat first. The visitors capitalized on Robine Ruke's half-century to score 157 runs, losing four wickets in 20 overs. Nepal, in reply, was restricted to 137 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs.

Sita Rana Magar was the top scorer for Nepal with 28 runs, while Puja Mahato and Kabita Joshi produced a firework by scoring 14-ball 24 and 17-ball 27, respectively. 

Nepal started decently but lost the first wicket when Samjhana Khadka (11-ball 9) was dismissed while attempting a big shot in the 2.4 overs. Captain Indu Barma (10-ball 7) followed shortly after, being caught by Iris off Caroline De Lange in the 5.3 overs.

Nepal slipped to 42 for 3 in 7.4 overs after Kabita Kunwar (7-ball 8) was run out. The fourth wicket fell in the 10.4 overs when Rubina Chhetri made a run-a-ball 11 before being caught by Iris off Eva Lynch.

U19 captain Puja, who joined the senior team right after participating in the U19 World Cup, then lifted the spirits of the Nepali fans with her explosive batting but was dismissed in the 13.3 overs as Frederique Overdijk had her caught by Hannah Landheer. Puja’s innings included two sixes and two fours.

Opener Sita continued to hold onto Nepal's hopes until she fell in the 17.3 overs, leaving the team at 113 for 6. She hit three boundaries off 45 balls  before being stumped by Captain Babette de Leede off Eva Lynch.

Kabita Joshi, who came in at number seven, provided a brief spark with two boundaries and one six, but was stumped by de Leede in the 19.2 overs, ending Nepal's hopes of a winning start.

de Lange and Lynch picked two Nepali wickets while Iris and Overdijk dismissed one batter each. 

After the match, Captain Indu Barma acknowledged deficiencies in the team’s bowling and fielding, stating, "In batting, our three players managed to perform well. It is our fielding and bowling that failed to impress today. Had we restricted the opposition below 120 runs, we could have emerged victorious."

Alisha Kumari Yadav (not out with 4 runs) and Manisha Upadhayay made their debuts for the national team. Wicketkeeper Alisha was part of the Nepali squad at the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup, while Manisha had played in the U19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup.

Earlier, Nepali bowlers applied pressure on the Netherlands early on by taking the wicket of opener Phebe Molkenboer on the second ball. Medium pacer Kabita Kunwar trapped Phebe LBW. 

The visitors lost their second wicket in the second over when Puja bowled out Netherlands captain Babette de Leede for just 6 runs off 5 balls.

However, openers Sterre Kalis and Robine Ruke paired up to frustrate the Nepali bowlers, establishing a 47-run partnership for the third wicket.

Sita Rana was brought into the bowling attack and promptly broke the partnership by dismissing Kalis for 29 runs. Kalis hit four boundaries off 35 deliveries.

Ruke continued to anchor the innings for the tourists, completing her third T20I half-century off 43 balls, which included seven boundaries. Player of the Match Ruke finished with an impressive knock of 59 runs from 48 balls.

Ruke and Heather Siegers added 54 runs for the fourth wicket, taking the Dutch side past 100 runs before Siegers was caught by former captain Rubina Chhetri off Ishwori Bist’s bowling in the 15.5 overs. Siegers contributed 23 runs off 19 balls, hitting one six and one four. Iris Zwilling then joined Ruke to keep the runs coming thick and fast.  She scored 31 runs off 23 balls, including five boundaries.

Kabita, Puja, Ishwori, and Sita Rana each took one wicket for Nepal.

The Netherlands and Thailand will play against each other on Day 2 of the series on Friday, while Nepal's next match will be against Thailand on Saturday.