Dipendrasingh Airi had hit fours and sixes in the first two balls respectively. In this situation, Nepal needed only 5 runs in the last 4 balls to win the Twenty20 international triangular series match against the Netherlands on Wednesday. However, the remaining 4 balls were not memorable for Nepal. Because of this, Nepal suffered a disappointing defeat by 2 runs.

Having set a target of 185 runs at the Trivi Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Nepal could score only 182 runs after losing 8 wickets. With the second consecutive defeat, Nepal has reached the position of exiting from the final race of this triangular series. Nepal, defeated by Namibia the previous day, must now win both remaining matches against Namibia and the Netherlands to reach the finals. 

Nepal coach Monty Desai is not afraid of defeat. "In the last two matches, we are trying to chase victory at least through batting, I am happy about that. Playing confidently is our identity, we are showing skill," he said. "The margin of defeat is very narrow, so it is difficult to analyze such a game. However, the way captain Rohit (Paudel) and Dipendra batted is a positive aspect. While Rohit scored 50 runs in the innings, Dipendra and Karan KC batted well in the last few overs. In the last three overs, Nepal needed 48 runs for victory. After Dipendra hit 1 six and 2 fours in the 18th over bowled by Aryan Dutt, Nepal added a total of 19 runs. 

Tim van der Gugten, included in the Dutch team for Twenty-20, added a total of 15 runs for Nepal by hitting 1-1 sixes in the 19th over by Dipendra and Karan. Nepal needed 15 runs in the last over. Devrehate spinner Roelf van der Merwe's first two balls were sent by Dipendra over the boundary. Karan was run out at the non-striking end in an attempt to take two runs off the third ball. Karan scored 11 runs in 7 balls. In the next ball, the 39-year-old van der Merwe bowled Dipendra. Pratish Jisi failed to score any runs in the fifth ball and after getting only 1 run in the leg bye in the sixth ball, Nepal was forced to suffer defeat.

The one who bowled the last over is also a very experienced bowler. He showed his bravery and the game went in his favor. We were also unlucky not to get a strike from Gulshan Jha when the Devrehate spinner was bowling,” said Monty. Gulshan, who came after Karan was out, could not face any ball. 

After Dipendra scored 60 runs in 34 balls by hitting 6 fours and 3 sixes, Nepal came close to victory. At Sokram, Dipendra and Karan KC shared a 55-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Earlier, the opener Kushal Bhurtel was again dismissed for zero. Asif Shaikh scored 34 runs off 23 balls by hitting 4 fours and 1 six. Rohit scored 50 runs off 36 balls by hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes. Kushal Malla 11, Sandeep Zora 8 runs, Sompal Kami dismissed for zero.

Van der Merwe took 2 wickets by spending only 24 runs in 4 overs. Player of the match was Sybrand Engelbrecht. He took the wickets of captain Rohit and Kushal Malla by spending only 13 runs in 2 overs. After Nepal won the toss, the Netherlands, who were invited to bat, lost 4 wickets and scored 184 runs. Engelbrecht, who made his debut, scored an unbeaten 49 runs. 

Max O'Dodd was dismissed by Karan for 4 runs in the third over, but another opener, Michael Levitt, scored 54 runs. Levitt, who is making his debut in Twenty20 internationals, hit 36 ​​balls, 5 fours and 3 sixes. Levitt was stumped by Asif on a wide ball from Kushal Malla. He hit 4 fours and 1 six off 38 balls.

Captain Scott Edwards was run out for 33 runs. He hit 5 fours in 16 balls. Engelbrecht and Teja Nidamanuru shared a 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Nidamanuru, who was run out on the last ball of the innings, scored 31 runs off 24 balls with 3 fours. Dipendra Singh from Nepal spent only 20 runs keeping 1 maiden in 4 overs. Nepal replaced Avinash Bohra and Vivek Yadav with Lalit Rajvanshi and Pratish Ji in the playing XI. Monty said that the players were used in view of the Twenty-20 World Cup tour and did not rely on only 11 players.