KATHMANDU, Aug 15: Two days after facing a humiliating defeat from host Netherlands, Nepal faces the same opponent on Monday during their second match of fourth round of the ICC World Cricket League Championship at the VRA Ground in Amstelveen.
The home team inflicted a seven-wicket defeat to Nepal on Saturday in just 16.5 overs. The defeat leaves Nepal in sixth place with four points in the eight-team contest. It has also dealt a huge blow to Nepal's ambition of finishing in the top four positions. The top four finishers will secure places for the 2019 ICC World Cup Qualifiers.
Nepal's inconsistence batting was once again exposed on Saturday. Openers Gyanendra Malla (11) and Anil Mandal (20), and Sharad Vesawkar (14) and Sompal Kami (12) were only players from Nepal to reach double digit figures. The visitors were brought down to their knees as Timm van der Gugten and Michael Rippon pocketed three wickets each to bundle out Nepal for 94 runs in 38.1 overs.
The scored turned out to be the lowest total of Nepal in list A matches and also the lowest total of the ongoing World Cricket League Championship.
‘Nepal can’t afford repeating same defensive mistakes’
Earlier, 150 runs against Hong Kong in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers was the lowest total of Nepal in list A matches. Similarly, 167 against Scotland in the first round match was Nepal's lowest total in the ongoing tournament.
During the Netherlands' run chase, opener Stephan Myburgh contributed unbeaten 33 runs and Wesley Barresi scored 37 as the host crossed the target in 16.5 overs with seven wickets in hand.
With the win, the Netherlands maintained its unbeaten streak in the tournament and strengthen its grip atop the table with 12 points from seven matches.
The result meanwhile puts Nepal under pressure to win the remaining matches - seven matches to go - before the championship folds.
Team Nepal also admitted that it failed to play up to its potential and it shall leave no stone unturned to do its best on Monday. “We still have one more match to prove ourselves. We were far from what we were capable to do on Saturday. We could perform better than this if we play to our potential in the next match,” Nepal's captain Paras Khadka said following his side's defeat on Saturday.
Nepal's coach Jagat Tamata said that he was optimistic of victory in the second match. “I think we can win the second match. The players have realized their mistakes committed in the first match,” he said.
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