Nepal loss debut ODI match to Netherlands

Kathmandu, Aug 2: Nepal lost its first-ever One Day International (ODI) by 55 runs against the Netherlands, the host country. Despite brilliant performance of Vice-Captain Gyanendra Malla, Nepal could not avoid the loss in its maiden ODI match.

Put to the batting first in its home ground, the Netherlands had gathered 189 runs in 47.4-overs at the loss of all wickets. Chasing the target of 190, Nepal managed to make 134 runs at the loss of all wickets with 49 balls remaining.

The opening batsmen, Gyanendra Malla and Anil Kumar Saha, had collaborated for important 58 runs giving a good start but this was not enough to keep Nepal’s hope for victory alive. Nepal kept on losing other batsmen after the fall of openers.

However, batsman Sompal Kami and batsman Malla made new records in the ODI. Kami has become the first Nepali cricketer to take out the first wicket in ODI while Malla made a record of first Nepali batsman to make first half century. It may be noted that Nepal gained the ODI status in March this year.