Up-and-coming cricket nation prevails for first time in one-day internationals with tense one-run win over the Netherlands
Nepal down Dutch in maiden ODI victory
Nepal defeated the Netherlands by one run off the last ball to record their first ever one-day international victory at Amstelveen on Friday.
Chasing 217 to win, the Dutch were comfortably placed at 2-114 before losing their next seven wickets for just 71.
Final pair Paul van Meekeren (12) and Fred Klaassen (13) steadied the ship to leave the home side needing six off the last over.
Disappointment for Dutch but a historical win for Nepal. Nepal win by 1 run! pic.twitter.com/sYyiceLWK0— Cricket🏏Netherlands (@KNCBcricket) August 3, 2018
However, needing one run to tie and two to win off the last ball, Klaassen was run out by Nepal skipper Paras Khadka off his own bowling to give the sport's newest ODI side a thrilling win.
The win, which prompted players to run onto the field and earnt hearty cheers from vocal fans in northern Holland, saw the series finish 1-1 after the Netherlands won the first match at the same venue by 55 runs on Wednesday.
Sompal Kami, batting at eight, had earlier top-scored for Nepal with 61 off 46 balls with five boundaries and three sixes.
Khadka added 51 with six fours and two sixes as Nepal recovered from 5-88 to reach 216 all out in the 49th over.
For the Dutch, Wesley Barresi top-scored with 71, an innings which featured eight boundaries.
Teenage leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichanne was the pick of the Nepal bowlers with 3-41.
Nepal earned ODI status earlier this year through qualification at the International Cricket Council's World Cup qualifier tournament in March earlier this year.
It's a remarkable rise for the Asian nation, especially considering they'd been floundering in Division Five of the ICC's World Cricket League only eight years ago.
"It's massive, it's something we have worked towards for a very long time," Khadka said at the time in Harare.
"As a team we've been pushing ourselves. We're very glad that we're winning games through different situations, players are standing up and everyone's contributing.
"As a captain I'm happy to lead such an amazing bunch of boys. We’ve always been hungry to do well."
Lamichhane became the first Nepalese player to be signed for the Indian Premier League earlier this year after signing on with the Ricky Ponting-coached Delhi Daredevils.
The wrist-spinner, who turned 18 this week, played Premier Cricket alongside Michael Clarke in Sydney in 2016 after the former Australia captain spotted him at the Hong Kong T20 Blitz.