Table of Contents
The Nepal National Cricket Team Vs Netherlands National Cricket Team Timeline highlights a growing rivalry between two ambitious associate cricket nations. Nepal and the Netherlands have faced each other in important limited-overs competitions, producing competitive matches, impressive individual performances, and dramatic finishes. Both teams have played a major role in the development of Associate cricket, with Nepal bringing passionate support and exciting young talent while the Netherlands have built a reputation for disciplined and competitive performances. From World Cup qualification campaigns to T20I and ODI encounters, their meetings have created memorable moments and helped strengthen the profile of both teams on the international stage.
One Day Internationals (ODI) Timeline
The teams have faced each other in 11 official ODI matches, with the Netherlands winning 6 and Nepal winning 5.
| Date | Tournament / Series | Venue | First Innings | Second Innings | Winner & Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Aug 2018 | International Cricket Council | Amstelveen | NED 189 (47.4) | NEP 134 (41.5) | Netherlands by 55 runs |
| 03 Aug 2018 | International Cricket Council | Amstelveen | NEP 216 (48.5) | NED 215 (50) | Nepal by 1 run |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Cricket World Cup Qualifier | Harare | NEP 167 (44.3) | NED 168/3 (27.1) | Netherlands by 7 wickets |
| 17 Feb 2024 | ICC CWC League 2 | Kirtipur | NED 137 (39) | NEP 141/1 (15.2) | Nepal by 9 wickets |
| 25 Feb 2024 | ICC CWC League 2 | Kirtipur | NEP 172 (49.3) | NED 173/2 (37.5) | Netherlands by 8 wickets |
| 04 Jun 2025 | ICC CWC League 2 | Dundee | NED 225 (49.1) | NEP 226/5 (47.1) | Nepal by 5 wickets |
| 10 Jun 2025 | ICC CWC League 2 | Dundee | NEP 236/9 (50) | NED 220 (49.2) | Nepal by 16 runs |
| 23 Jul 2026 | ICC CWC League 2 | Utrecht | NEP 157 (44.4) | NED 158/4 (44.1) | Netherlands by 6 wickets |
| 29 Jul 2026 | ICC CWC League 2 | Utrecht | NED 225/9 (50) | NEP 168 (48) | Netherlands by 57 runs |
Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) Timeline
Nepal and the Netherlands share an incredibly close rivalry in the shortest format, featuring multiple tri-nation tournaments and global qualifiers.
| Date | Tournament / Series | Venue | First Innings | Second Innings | Winner & Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jun 2015 | Nepal in Netherlands Series | Amstelveen | NEP 116/7 (20) | NED 117/7 (19.5) | Netherlands by 3 wickets |
| 01 Jul 2015 | Nepal in Netherlands Series | Amstelveen | NED 172/4 (20) | NEP 69 (17.4) | Netherlands by 103 runs |
| 02 Jul 2015 | Nepal in Netherlands Series | Rotterdam | NEP 131/9 (20) | NED 132/6 (19.4) | Netherlands by 4 wickets |
| 03 Jul 2015 | Nepal in Netherlands Series | Rotterdam | NED 139/7 (20) | NEP 141/7 (19.5) | Nepal by 3 wickets |
| 29 Jul 2018 | MCC Tri-Nation Series | Lord’s, London | NED 174/4 (16.4) | — | No Result (Rain) |
| 07 Oct 2019 | Oman Pentangular Series | Al Amarat | NED 133 (19.3) | NEP 134/6 (19.5) | Nepal by 4 wickets |
| 17 Apr 2021 | Nepal Tri-Nation Series | Kirtipur | NED 136/4 (20) | NEP 141/1 (15) | Nepal by 9 wickets |
| 20 Apr 2021 | Nepal Tri-Nation Series | Kirtipur | NEP 206/6 (20) | NED 209/7 (19.3) | Netherlands by 3 wickets |
| 24 Apr 2021 | Nepal Tri-Nation Series (Final) | Kirtipur | NEP 238/3 (20) | NED 96 (17.2) | Nepal by 142 runs |
| 28 Feb 2024 | Nepal Tri-Nation Series | Kirtipur | NED 184/4 (20) | NEP 182/8 (20) | Netherlands by 2 runs |
| 02 Mar 2024 | Nepal Tri-Nation Series | Kirtipur | NED 120 (19.3) | NEP 121/4 (15.2) | Nepal by 6 wickets |
| 05 Mar 2024 | Nepal Tri-Nation Series (Final) | Kirtipur | NEP 184/8 (20) | NED 189/6 (19.3) | Netherlands by 4 wickets |
| 04 Jun 2024 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | Dallas | NEP 106 (19.2) | NED 109/4 (18.4) | Netherlands by 6 wickets |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Scotland T20I Tri-Series | Glasgow | NED 152/7 (20) | NEP 152/8 (20) | Netherlands won via Super Over |
| 19 Jun 2025 | Scotland T20I Tri-Series | Glasgow | NED 174/7 (20) | NEP 180/4 (19.4) | Nepal by 6 wickets |
ICC World Cricket League (List A Timeline)
Before gaining full ODI status, the two sides clashed in crucial structural tier tournaments under the ICC World Cricket League umbrella.
| Date | Tournament / Competition | Venue | First Innings | Second Innings | Winner & Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Aug 2016 | ICC World Cricket League Championship | Amstelveen | NEP 94 (38.1) | NED 96/3 (16.5) | Netherlands by 7 wickets |
| 15 Aug 2016 | ICC World Cricket League Championship | Amstelveen | NEP 217/9 (50) | NED 198 (48.3) | Nepal by 19 runs |
Head-to-Head Summary
| Format | Matches Played | Nepal Wins | Netherlands Wins | No Result / Tie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| T20I | 15 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
| List A | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 28 | 12 | 15 | 1 |
Highest Individual Scores (Batting)
| Player | Team | Format | Score | Date | Match Venue / Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max O’Dowd | Netherlands | ODI | 90 | 24 Jun 2023 | Harare (CWC Qualifier) |
| Michael Levitt | Netherlands | T20I | 86 | 19 Jun 2025 | Glasgow (Tri-Series) |
| Aarif Sheikh | Nepal | ODI | 84 | 10 Jun 2025 | Dundee (CWCL2) |
| Bas de Leede | Netherlands | T20I | 81 | 20 Apr 2021 | Kirtipur (Tri-Series) |
| Aarif Sheikh | Nepal | ODI | 78 | 04 Jun 2025 | Dundee (CWCL2) |
| Kushal Bhurtel | Nepal | T20I | 77 | 24 Apr 2021 | Kirtipur (Tri-Series Final) |
Best Bowling Figures (Innings)
| Bowler | Team | Format | Figures | Date | Match Venue / Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karan KC | Nepal | T20I | 4 for 17 | 07 Oct 2019 | Al Amarat (Pentangular) |
| Kushal Bhurtel | Nepal | ODI | 4 for 20 | 17 Feb 2024 | Kirtipur (CWCL2) |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | Nepal | T20I | 4 for 20 | 07 Oct 2019 | Al Amarat (Pentangular) |
| Ahsan Malik | Netherlands | T20I | 4 for 21 | 02 Jul 2015 | Rotterdam (Nepal in NED) |
| Logan van Beek | Netherlands | ODI | 4 for 24 | 24 Jun 2023 | Harare (CWC Qualifier) |
| Karan KC | Nepal | ODI | 4 for 30 | 29 Jul 2026 | Utrecht (CWCL2) |
Key Player Matchup Statistics
1 Sandeep Lamichhane (Bowler) vs. Scott Edwards (Batter)
- Context: A high-impact middle-overs battle between Nepal’s premier leg-spinner and the Dutch captain.
- Total Runs Scored: 84 runs
- Dismissals: Lamichhane has dismissed Edwards 3 times across both ODI and T20I formats.
- Impact: Edwards handles spin exceptionally well via the sweep shot, but Lamichhane’s variations keep his strike rate restricted to under 110 in these matchups.
2 Logan van Beek (Bowler) vs. Rohit Paudel (Batter)
- Context: The premier Dutch opening/death bowler challenging Nepal’s captain and anchor in the middle-order.
- Total Runs Scored: 62 runs
- Dismissals: Van Beek has claimed Paudel’s wicket 2 times.
- Impact: Van Beek’s tight line and short-ball execution generally stifle Paudel’s boundary output early in his innings, leading to a high dot-ball percentage.
3 Karan KC (Bowler) vs. Max O’Dowd (Batter)
- Context: Powerplay weapon matching up directly against the reliable Dutch opening batsman.
- Total Runs Scored: 95 runs
- Dismissals: Karan KC has removed O’Dowd 3 times in their head-to-head history.
- Impact: While O’Dowd has scored at a brisk pace against him in T20Is, Karan KC’s ability to swing the ball early has often forced edges into the wicketkeeper or slips.
The First Sparks in Associate Cricket
Before gaining global status, the two nations built a foundation through fundamental non-ODI matches under the ICC World Cricket League.
- August 2016 served as the definitive early turning point for competitive balance between the sides.
- The Netherlands dominated the opening fixture in Amstelveen, packaging Nepal for 94 runs and chasing it down comfortably.
- Nepal rebounded exactly two days later at the same venue, successfully defending 217 runs to win by 19 runs.
Early T20 Battles and the 2015 Series
The shortest format laid the framework for their intense modern rivalry during bilateral tours and neutral qualifiers.
- A 4-match bilateral series in June and July 2015 in the Netherlands officially launched their Twenty20 International history.
- The Dutch team capitalized heavily on home turf conditions, claiming victory in three out of the four scheduled encounters.
- Nepal managed a crucial consolidation win in the final game of that tour, successfully chasing 140 runs with three wickets to spare.
ODI Debuts and Narrow Margins
The timeline shifted permanently in August 2018 when Nepal played its first-ever official One Day International match in history.
- Amstelveen hosted the historic two-match ODI series which instantly delivered maximum physical and mental drama.
- Game 1 saw the Netherlands ruin Nepal’s debut celebrations by bowling them out for 134 to secure a 55-run victory.
- Game 2 provided one of the closest finishes in Associate cricket history, with Nepal winning by exactly 1 run to level the series.
Home Crowds, High Totals and Rising Tension
The rivalry reached extreme peak intensities when matches moved to the spin-friendly pitches and packed stadiums of Kirtipur.
- The 2021 Tri-Nation Series in Nepal showcased aggressive batting and massive team totals from both standard rosters.
- High-Scoring Thrillers saw Nepal post a mammoth 238 for 3 in the final to crush the Dutch by 142 runs.
- The 2024 series at the same venue saw the Netherlands gain sweet revenge, winning a high-pressure final by 4 wickets.
World Cup Stage Clashes and Shock Results
The rivalry eventually spilled over onto the grandest international platforms with structural tournament progression on the line.
- The 2023 CWC Qualifier in Harare saw the Netherlands completely outclass Nepal by 7 wickets, paving their way to the main event.
- The 2024 T20 World Cup match in Dallas, Texas, renewed their global battlefield ties under immense pressure.
- Low-scoring discipline allowed the Netherlands to restrict Nepal to just 106 runs and successfully grind out a 6-wicket win.
Recent Tri-Series Drama and Scorecard Thrillers
Recent structural fixtures in 2025 and 2026 have pushed individual boundaries and match extensions past traditional limits.
- The June 2025 Tri-Series in Glasgow, Scotland, produced an unprecedented, historic three-Super-Over match.
- The Triple Super Over finally concluded with Dutch opener Michael Levitt hitting a decisive six to secure victory.
- The July 2026 CWCL2 fixtures in Utrecht saw the Netherlands defend home territory brutally, sweeping both matches.
Tactical Wars, Star Performers and the Ongoing Rivalry
A deep contrast in cricketing philosophies keeps this Associate matchup incredibly dynamic and unpredictable.
- Tactical blueprints pit the raw spin variations and swing bowling of Nepal against the mechanical pacing and pace depths of the Dutch.
- Star performers like Rohit Paudel and Sandeep Lamichhane consistently carry the structural hopes of the Nepalese contingent.
- Dutch leadership relies on the ice-cold anchoring of Scott Edwards, Logan van Beek, and Max O’Dowd to maintain structural supremacy.
Final Thoughts
The Nepal National Cricket Team Vs Netherlands National Cricket Team Timeline represents a rivalry shaped by competitive cricket, developing talent, and important qualification battles. Neither side has been afraid to challenge more established teams, and their direct encounters have often carried significant importance in international tournaments. Nepal’s energetic style and passionate following have complemented the Netherlands’ tactical approach and experience. As both nations continue to build stronger squads and compete on the global stage, their rivalry should produce more exciting matches, standout performances, and memorable moments. Future encounters will add further chapters to an increasingly important rivalry in Associate and international cricket.
FAQs
1. When did Nepal and the Netherlands first play against each other?
Nepal and the Netherlands have faced each other in international and associate-level competitions for many years, particularly in limited-overs cricket.
2. Which formats do Nepal and the Netherlands play against each other?
The teams have primarily competed in ODIs and T20 Internationals, along with matches in international qualifying and tournament competitions.
3. Which team has had more success in the rivalry?
The results have been competitive, with both Nepal and the Netherlands recording important victories in different competitions and formats.
4. What are the most memorable Nepal vs Netherlands matches?
Their matches in World Cup qualifying events, World Cup League 2, and T20I competitions have produced several closely fought and important encounters.
5. Why is the Nepal vs Netherlands rivalry important?
The rivalry showcases the growth of Associate cricket and provides both nations with valuable high-level competition as they pursue greater success on the international stage.