Nepal defeated The Netherlands by nine wickets in the opening match of the Tri-Nations T20 Series at Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.

The Dutch team were called to bat after losing the toss and gave Nepal a decent target of 136 runs in 20 overs with the loss of four wickets.

In response, Nepal’s debutant openers Kushal Bhurtel and Asif Sheikh played a 116-run first wicket partnership to give Nepal a comfortable position for the win.

Bhurtel scored 62 runs in 46 balls while Sheikh remained not out scoring 54 runs in 38 balls.

Nepal reached the target in the 15th over with a sixer from skipper Gyanendra Malla who scored 13 runs.

Earlier, Sandeep Lamichhane took two wickets in four overs at an expense of 22 runs. Sompal Kami and Saheb Alam also took one wicket each for Nepal.

For the Netherlands, Bas de Leede top scored with 41 runs off 49 balls while opener Scott Edwards was able to get 30 runs off 32 balls before being caught by Bhurtel off Alam’s delivery.