Nepal’s returned to T20 international after three years was dampened by the rain as the match against the Netherlands was abandoned at the Lord’s Cricket Ground after 16.4 overs.
The Netherlands scored 174/4 in 16.4 overs in the damp conditions utilizing a short boundary and inability of Nepali spinners to grip the ball. The match was called off as the rain continued.
Nepal won the toss and invited the Netherlands to bat first – probably in view of the revised total if the match was to be disrupted.
Basanta Regmi, bowling the second over, bowled Tobias Visee for 11. It was a good start given that Visee has scored 58 not out in 6-over-a-side match against MCC earlier on the day. An over later Karan KC claimed another opener Max O’Dowd (5), whose leg side flick was well taken by Aarif Sheikh to make it 24/2.
The Dutch batsmen then cut loose on Nepali bowlers as they lost grips due to dampened conditions. Wesley Barresi was ruthless on Nepali bowlers as he went on to hit 44 off 24 balls with 6 fours and a six. He was bowled by Sompal Kami on 9th over, but by the time, the Dutch were cruising well at 79/3.
Ryan ten Doeschate, making his return to T20I after 2010, who was playing a quiet supporter to Barresi then got some shots to make it 112/3 in 12 overs when the match was disrupted for 15 minutes by the rain.
The match resumed after 15 minutes with two overs cut from each innings, ten Doeschate lost his rhythm and was run out by the agility of Dipendra Singh Airee.
His departure brought in Scott Edwards, who was on mood of hitting from the first ball, and with Michael Rippon put on a brilliant show before the rain disruption. Edwards made 34 not out off just 14 balls while Rippon was on 38 not out off 22 balls. Both his 3 fours and 2 sixes.
It was a forgetful T20I debut for the national team for wonderkid Sandeep Lamichhane as he struggled with the ball and gave away 43 runs in his 4 overs without taking a wicket. His only rejoice was that ten Doeschate was run out in his over. Sompal, Basanta, Karan and Paras all went for above 10 runs an over while Lalit Rajbanshi went for 25 runs in 3 overs.
Nepal will now head for the Netherlands for two ODIs on August 1 and 3.