Fresh off their historic ODI chase just days ago, the Netherlands’ cricket team once again entered the annals of history after their game against Nepal in Glasgow, Scotland.
Scotland, Nepal, and the Netherlands are currently involved in a tri-series, and the second game of the tournament has become a piece of cricketing history. The Netherlands’ narrow win over Nepal is the first-ever men’s match to witness three Super Overs to decide the winner.
The Netherlands batted first and posted 152 for 7, with key contributions from Teja Nidamanuru (35) and Vikramjit Singh (30). Nepal’s reply wasn’t smooth, but Kushal Bhurtel (34) and Rohit Paudel (48) fought back. With 16 needed off the final over, Nepal’s Nandan Yadav showed nerves of steel—he struck 4, 2, 2, 4 and took a single to tie the match and send the game to a Super Over.
Nepal, batting first in the Super Over, scored 19 runs, which could have been enough only for Max O’Dowd to smash a six and a four to level things again and send the game to a second Super Over.
In the second Super Over, the Netherlands managed 17 runs, which again appeared to be enough only for Dipendra Singh Airee to hit a six when Nepal needed 7 off the last ball to cue a third Super Over—the first time ever in cricketing history.
However, Nepal’s strength had run out as Zach Lion-Cachet bowled out both batters without conceding a single run. With just 1 run needed, the Netherlands ended the game with a six to eventually seal the win.
Triple Super Overs had never happened in professional men’s cricket—not in T20 Internationals, not in domestic leagues, not even in one-day matches before the Netherlands and Nepal game. This contest between two rising Associate nations delivered a historic chapter in the sport’s shortest format.
The tri-series will continue tonight (PST) with Nepal taking on Scotland, looking for their first win against the table-leading home team.
