Nepal blew away a solid chance to win their first ever One Day International match losing to Netherlands by 55 runs in the first of the two-match ODI series at the VRA Grounds in Amstelveen on Thursday.

Skipper Paras Khadka picked up four wickets in a tight bowling display to restrict the Netherlands to 189 all out in 47.4 overs. Openers Gyanendra Malla and Anil Sah gave Nepal a modest start with a half century stand but the middle order failed to make the most of it that was already dealt a blow due to the injury to middle order mainstay Sharad Vesawkar. Vesawkar came in to bat at No 11 and his dismissal saw Nepal bundled out for just 134 runs in 41.5 overs.

“We didn’t actually made the most of opportunity,” said Khadka. “Restricting them to below 200 was a good really good performance. We should have done better in batting, including myself. We always complained about not getting good start from the openers but we broke the poor trend today. But could not capitalise on the opportunity provided by the openers”

Gyanendra put on 58 runs for the first wicket with Anil Sah (21) before the latter fell to Fred Klaassen. Malla completed his half century in 57 balls and then saw skipper Khadka (12) lose wicket to his opposite number Pieter Seelaar. Malla was trapped leg before by Michael Rippon as the opener headed back to the pavilion making a 61-ball 51 with eight hits to the fence. Nepal then went through a mini collapse losing Aarif Sheikh, Sompal Kami and Basanta Regmi as all three batsmen fell for ducks.

Dipendra Singh Airee hung around with retiring Shakti Gauchan before falling to Fred Klaassen. Airee was the second best scorer for Nepal making 48-ball 33 with two fours and a six. Vesawkar came in to bat at No 11 braving his finger injury but with just a wicket left had already slipped put of Nepal’s grasp. Vesawkar is out of the Friday’s match as well. Michael Rippon (3-23), Pieter Seelar (3-20) and Fred Klaassen (3-30) shared nine wickets to sink Nepal.

Earlier, it was Khadka who strangulated the Dutch batting lineup with accurate line and length. Seamer Sompal Kami provided the first breakthrough removing opener Daniel Ter Braak (one) in the third over. Ben Cooper (20) and another opener Stephan Myburg steadied the Dutch innings with a 45-run stand for the second wicket before Khadka trapped the latter leg before wicket. Young leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane joined the act clean bowling Myburg for a 32-ball 29 that included four boundaries and a six.

Khadka soon reduced the Netherlands to 72-4 getting Wesley Barresi (12) caught at mid on by Aarif Sheikh. Bas de Leede and Michael Rippon then rebuilt the Netherlands innings with a 68-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Sompal provided the much needed breakthrough having De Leede caught behind by wicketkeeper Anil.

De Leede made 30 off 60 with a six and a four. Basanta Regmi took his first ODI wicket following a sharp catch from Shakti Gauchan, who was probably played his last match outside Nepal. Shakti gave a quick reflex to take a sharp one-handed catch of Dutch skipper Seelaar who tried to sweep Regmi in a ball that kept pretty low.

The big wicket came in the 40th over after Khadka had Rippon caught by Dipendra Singh Airee. Rippon made 51 off 76 balls with two boundaries. One ball later he bowled Shane Snater for two-ball duck reducing the hosts to 159-8. The Dutch tail order offered a brief resistance taking the team to 189. Khadka returned with figures of 4-26 from 10 overs, while Sompal also took three wickets for Nepal. Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane and Basanta Regmi also had one scalp apiece.

Summary

Netherlands 189 in 47.4 overs (M Rippon 51, De Leede 30; P Khadka 4-26, S Kami 3-34) beat Nepal 134 in 41.5 overs (G Malla 51, D Airee 33; F Klaassen 3-30, M Rippon 3-23, P Seelaar 3-20) by 55 runs

Man-of-the-match: M Rippon