Cricket Match Highlights | Scotland T20I Tri-Series 2025 (Match – 05) – 19 June: Nepal vs Netherlands |Nepal Stun Netherlands in Thrilling Chase as Bhurtel and Aarif Shine in Tri-Series Clash

NEP vs NED (Match-04) – Highlights  

In a pulsating encounter at Glasgow, Nepal chased down a competitive target of 175 with six wickets in hand and two balls to spare, outclassing the Netherlands in the 5th match of the Scotland T20I Tri-Series 2025. The victory was scripted by a composed knock from opener Kushal Bhurtel and a blistering cameo from Aarif Sheikh, as Nepal displayed nerves of steel to claim their second win of the series.

Opting to bat first, the Netherlands were powered by a magnificent innings from Michael Levitt, who smashed 86 off 53 deliveries, including six boundaries and five maximums. Levitt held the innings together amid frequent setbacks at the other end, showcasing his growing stature as one of the Netherlands’ premier T20 batters. However, despite his brilliance, a middle-over squeeze by Nepal and some lack of finishing firepower kept the Dutch total to 174/7 at the end of 20 overs.

Levitt found little support early on, as Vikramjit Singh fell for a duck and the middle order crumbled under pressure. Scott Edwards, the captain and wicketkeeper, managed just 2 runs, while promising talents like Noah Croes and Zach Lion-Cachet couldn’t convert their starts. The innings was later stabilized by Roelof van der Merwe, who struck a brisk 36 off 21 balls, and Aryan Dutt, who added an unbeaten 17 off 18 to give the Netherlands a defendable total.

For Nepal, the bowlers were clinical, with Karan KC and Lalit Rajbanshi each picking up a wicket, while Dipendra Singh Airee, Rupesh Singh, and Sandeep Lamichhane chipped in with one apiece. Airee, in particular, impressed with his economy rate of 6.00, giving away only 24 runs in his quota.

In response, Nepal began cautiously but confidently, anchored by opener Kushal Bhurtel, who played a sublime innings of 65 off 51 deliveries. His measured approach in the powerplay, followed by fluent strokeplay in the middle overs, laid the foundation for Nepal’s chase. Although Aasif Sheikh and skipper Rohit Paudel departed cheaply, Bhim Sharki’s 27 off 16 added the necessary momentum to the innings.

The real turning point came through Aarif Sheikh, who blazed his way to 39 off 23 before retiring hurt. His calculated aggression and deft placement proved vital in shifting the pressure back onto the Dutch bowlers. Dipendra Singh Airee and Lokesh Bam then finished the job with clinical composure, with Bam’s 12 off 4 balls*, including two sixes, sealing the victory in style.

The Netherlands’ bowling effort lacked penetration, with only Roelof van der Merwe (1/22 in 4 overs) standing out for his tidy spell. Others like Daniel Doram and Vikramjit Singh proved expensive and failed to make breakthroughs at crucial junctures.

This victory now places Nepal in strong contention for a spot in the final of the tri-series, highlighting their growing prowess in T20 internationals. The match also underlined Michael Levitt’s brilliance, albeit in a losing cause, as his Player of the Match performance went in vain.

As the tri-series heads into its final leg, Nepal’s resilience and batting depth will be a significant threat to both Scotland and the Netherlands.

Nepal vs Netherlands Scoreboard

Netherlands  – 174/7 (20.0)

Nepal – 180/4 (19.4)

Result – Nepal won by 6 wickets

Player of the match – Michael Levitt

Michael Levitt

NEP vs NED Playing XIs

Disclaimer: These Match highlights reflect the author’s insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the points discussed and form their own conclusions.

Visit JeetBuzz News to access our Highlights that are just for you and reminisce about all of your favorite cricket nostalgia moments while being thrilled by our solid Cricket Highlights updates. To ensure you never miss out, join in on the fun right away!