Nepal are currently playing host to a riveting tri-series featuring cricketing talents from their own country, Namibia and the Netherlands. The six-match T20I series, slated to conclude on March 5th, has been delivering exciting cricket action, and the latest encounter showcased Nepal’s dominance as they registered a convincing six-wicket victory over the Netherlands, successfully chasing down a target of 120 runs with 27 balls to spare.
Kushal Bhurtel’s heroics: A game-changing display of skill
The match witnessed a moment of extraordinary fielding brilliance courtesy of Nepal’s Kushal Bhurtel. In the third ball of the 20th over of the Netherlands’ innings, Bhurtel prevented a potential six by leaping to intercept the ball and executed a stunning run-out of Vivian Kingma. This game-changing display underscored Bhurtel’s exceptional fielding skills and cricketing intelligence.
Dramatic turn of events: Bhurtel’s save leads to Vivian Kingma’s run-out
Roelof van der Merwe, the striker, targeted a full-toss from Dipender Singh Airee, aiming for what appeared to be his second six of the innings as he lofted it over long-on. However, Bhurtel, sprinting energetically, had different plans. Just as the ball neared the boundary, Bhurtel leaped, skillfully redirecting the ball back into play, denying what seemed like an inevitable maximum. His commitment didn’t end there; swiftly recovering from the fall, Bhurtel charged towards the ball, launching it towards the wicketkeeper’s end.
Caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events, the two batters completed a run after Bhurtel’s incredible save but found themselves stranded at one end during the attempt for a second run. Wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh efficiently removed the bails, effecting the run-out of Kingma and concluding the Netherlands’ innings in a remarkable sequence of play.
Here’s the video:
Saved a six ➡️ Got a run-out ➡️ Won the match by 6 wickets.
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.#NEPvNED #FanCode pic.twitter.com/d9DReUsiHR— FanCode (@FanCode) March 3, 2024
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Bowling brilliance restricts Netherlands
Opting to bat first, Netherlands faced early setbacks, with opener Michael Levitt departing for a mere four runs. Despite Max O’Dowd‘s contribution of 31 runs and Van der Merwe’s unbeaten 23*, the team posted a modest score of 120 runs. Nepal’s bowling unit performed admirably, with Pratis GC emerging as the highest wicket-taker, securing three crucial wickets.
Nepal’s chase and standout performances
During the chase of 121, Bhurtel made an impactful start with 12 runs off eight deliveries. The pivotal moment arrived when Gulsan Jha and Rohit Paudel shared an impressive 86-run stand, bringing Nepal to the brink of victory. Although both fell near the target, Kushal Malla and Airee calmly finished the job, securing another triumph for Nepal in the ongoing tri-series.
