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The Netherlands clinched the title of the Tri-nation T20 International Series, defeating Nepal by four wickets in the final held today at Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground.

Despite Nepal posting a challenging total of 185 runs, the Netherlands successfully chased down the target in 19.3 overs at the loss of six wickets.

Michael Levitt played significantly in the Netherlands' victory, scoring a half-century with 54 runs off 29 balls, including three sixes and six fours. Max O'Dowd scored 22 runs off 23 balls, hitting one six and two fours.

The Netherlands' opening pair of Levitt and O'Dowd played with a solid partnership of 83 runs for the first wicket.

Though Nepal's Kushal Malla joined his team for bowling in ninth overs and took two wickets in his first over, it was not enough to derail the Netherlands' momentum.

Vikramajit Singh bolstered the Netherlands' innings with 29 runs off 23 balls, smashing three sixes while captain Scott Andrew Edwards added just two runs to the team. 

At the fall of the fifth wicket from Nepal, Sybrand Engelbrecht was dismissed before he scored 48 with three sixes and four fours in 29 balls. In its sixth wicket, Nepal dismissed Teja Nidamanuru with just two runs.

Bowler Timm van der Gugten contributed 21 runs with the help of two sixes and two fours in five balls while Roelof van der Merwe made two runs for the Netherland's victory.  Both of them were not out.

Levitt, who contributed 54 runs and took two wickets, was declared the Player of the Match.

Nepal, which opted to bat first after winning the toss, made 184 runs in the allotted 20 overs, losing eight wickets.

Opener Aashif Shekh contributed 47 runs including three sixes and one four off 37 balls while another opener Kushal Bhurtel made 20 runs. Captain Rohit Poudel made 25 runs while Gulshan Jha made 34 runs.

Dipendra Singh Airee was out with single run while Kushal Malla made 26 runs in 11 balls with the help of three sixes. Aarif Sekh could not make any run while Karan KC hit nine.

The final order batters Sompal Kami and Pratis GC each made six runs.

Fred Klaassen, Timm van der Gugten, Michael Levitt and Sybrand Englebrecht each took two wickets for the Netherlands.

Remaining in second position with four points in league phase, Nepal entered into the final while the Netherlands is in top position with five points.

The Netherlands which was in the top place in the score table with five points and Nepal with four points had entered into the final of the Series.

Namibia, which had secured three points, was at the bottom of the score tally. It played four matches, winning in one, losing in two and drawing in one.

Namibia defeated Nepal by 20 runs in the first match of the Series while the Netherlands beat Nepal by two runs in the second match.

Likewise, the Netherlands trounced Namibia by 59 runs in the third match while Nepal secured a three-run exciting win against Namibia in the fourth match of the Series.

In the fifth match, Nepal had secured an easy six-wicket win against the Netherlands whereas the match between Namibia and the Netherlands was canceled due to rain, with both teams sharing one point each.

The league stage final match between Namibia and the Netherlands under the Triangular T-20I Series has been canceled due to rain.

With this, both teams share one point each. This means that Nepal and the Netherlands are pitted against each other in the final of the Series.

The Netherlands have reached the final, remaining at the top of the scoreboard with 5 points. Similarly, Nepal which is in second place in the score tally has four points while Namibia has three points.

In the match held at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur today, the Netherlands won the toss and invited Namibia to bat first. Namibia amassed 98 runs in 15 overs, losing four wickets. The match had to be stopped at this point after it started raining.

Before the game was stopped, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton made 34 runs and Zane Green 11 runs for Namibia.

Nepal faced a 20-run defeat at the hands of Namibia in its first game and a two-run defeat to the Netherlands in the second match under the league stage.

Similarly, Nepal secured their place in the final, defeating Namibia by three runs and the Netherlands by six wickets in its third game.

The final match will take place on March 5.

Nepal is set to face Namibia on Wednesday under the triangular series of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2. The game will start from 9:30 am at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. 

Earlier on Feb 15, Nepal lost the inaugural match of the League 2 to Namibia by four wickets. Chasing a target of 133 runs posted by Nepal, Namibia had met it in 33.1 overs at the loss of six wickets. 

The home side bounced back and trounced Netherlands in the second match of the series on Feb 17. Nepal won the game by nine wickets. Netherlands managed to score 137 runs in 39 overs, losing all their wickets in the process. Nepal chased 138-run target in just 15.2 overs, losing only one wicket. 

In the third match on Monday, Netherlands defeated Namibia by seven wickets. Netherlands met the target of 124 runs posted by Namibia in 27.2 overs at the loss of three wickets.

Wednesday’s match between Nepal and Namibia will be the fourth one in the tri-series. Currently, all three teams have played two matches each, with each team having one loss and one win. All three teams hold two points each, but Nepal is leading the points table with the highest net run rate (0.92).

Friendship Cup T20

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced the Friendship Cup T20 Tri-Series scheduled to start on March 31. The tournament will feature Nepal competing against teams from Indian states—Gujarat and Baroda in Vapi, Gujarat.

Nepal is set to kick off the series by facing Gujarat on the opening day. Nepal’s second match with Gujarat is scheduled for April 3. Also, Nepal will encounter Baroda on April 2 and 5. Gujarat and Baroda will face each other on April 1 and 4. The final match is scheduled for April 7.

Nepal A clinches first victory

In the second one-day innings, Nepal A secured a historic victory by defeating Canada XI by two wickets in a match held at Mulpani Cricket Ground on Tuesday. This marks the team’s first-ever win. The home side successfully chased a target of 241 runs, losing eight wickets in the process, concluding at 49.1 overs.

With this triumph, Nepal has leveled the 3-match series at 1-1. The decisive match of the series is scheduled for Feb 22. Nepal suffered a four-wicket defeat in the initial match on Feb 18.

Captain Sundeep Jora and Bashir Ahamad played pivotal roles in Nepal’s victory, both contributing half-centuries. In the earlier innings, after losing the toss and opting to bat first, Canada was bowled out for 240 runs with just one ball remaining. Shreyas Movva emerged as the top scorer for Canada, accumulating 68 runs.

Shahab Alam claimed three wickets, while Sher Mall and Rashid Khan each secured two wickets during Nepal’s bowling effort.

The Daffodil Cup, an inter school basketball and futsal tournament, has concluded. The event was organized by Daffodil School, Nayapati, Sundarijal. Chief Guest Major General Santosh Dhakal presented prizes to the winners.

Mills Berry School emerged victorious in the Futsal tournament in the Under-12 Boys category, defeating Bodhi Sadan. In the Under-14 Boys category, Daffodil Public School secured a victory against Daffodil Boarding School to claim the title. Chelsea World School triumphed in the Boys Under-16 category by defeating Daffodil Boarding School (A) team.

In the Boys Under-13 category of basketball, Golden Peak School emerged as the winners by defeating Bouddha Children Haven.

The tournament, which started on Jan 21, lasted for a week.