After a 12-hour ride from London, Nepal reached Amstelveen just two hours before the match but showed no weariness restricting the hosts to 134-5 in 20 overs. Nepal were squeezed out for 116-7 with only skipper Paras Khadka and his deputy Gyanendra Malla showing some grit with the bat.

It was Nepal’s first ever T20 International against the Dutch against whom they had lost twice during the two separate editions of ICC World T20 Qualifiers – in 2012 and 2013. It was also Nepal’s third loss out of five T20 Internationals they have played so far. Nepal’s previous losses were against Hong Kong–in a bilateral series–and Bangladesh in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

Nepali batsmen were unable to build partnerships that could have taken the game away from the Dutch. Dassanayake was all praise for his bowlers and appreciated the way the Dutch defended the total. “The par score at this ground (VRA) is around 145. Our bowlers did well to keep them under 140. We were also batting well but they (Netherlands) had good plans and knew where to ball,” Dassanayake said.

Opener Stephan Myburgh defied the Nepali attack with an unbeaten 67 from 60 balls lifting the hosts to a total that ultimately proved enough. Nepal opened their innings with Subash Khakurel and Malla but were precariously placed at 34-3 in 6.5 overs. Malla made 24 off 22 with four boundaries, while Khakurel (two) and Binod Bhandari (five) departed early.

Skipper Paras Khadka and Rajesh Pulami Magar (13) raised some hopes with a 31-run stand but the former ran out of partners from the other end. Sharad Vesawkar (10), Pradeep Airee (six) and Karan KC (one) fell cheaply. Paras remained unbeaten on 45 from 42 with one six and a four. Basanta Regmi was the pick of the Nepali bowlers with 2-24 from six overs.

Myburgh, who shared an unbeaten 63-run stand for the sixth wicket with Michael Rippon (25), hit five fours and a six.