Nepal vs Netherlands Prediction: Nepal lost one in last four

Nepal and the Netherlands are going head to head in the 2nd Match of T20 Series at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Nepal, Nepal on 28 Feb, 2024. Nepal lost only one out of four last games against the Dutch in recent times. Who will win this game of cricket?

After suffering a 20-run defeat against Namibia in the first match, Rohit Paudel's team needs to improve their performance. They initially had control of the game but missed opportunities, allowing their opponents to score heavily. Paudel will aim to move past this loss and secure their first points. The team will rely on a strong start from opening batsmen Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh, who underperformed in the previous game. The middle order showed promise, with expectations for runs from Paudel, Malla, and Airee. To secure a win, Jha, Kami, and Jora need to perform well in the lower middle order. KC and Kami struggled to contain runs in the previous game and will focus on taking early wickets to pressure the opposition. Airee and Paudel must maintain a steady scoring rate in the middle overs. Bohara and Malla will play crucial supporting roles.

Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Kushal Malla, Abinash Bohara, Sundeep Jora, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Bibek Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Dipendra Singh Airee

Scott Edwards' team is set to face a challenging match as some of their seasoned players are unavailable for this tour. They will need to utilize their available resources effectively. Edwards, known for leading from the front, will aim to inspire his team to victory. Max O'Dowd and Vikramjit Singh are tasked with providing a solid start against Nepal's bowlers. Teja Nidamanuru, Sybrand Engelbrecht, and Scott Edwards himself must perform well in the middle order. Timm van der Gugten and Aryan Dutt are expected to provide powerful hitting in the lower middle order. Fred Klaassen and Vivian Kingma will be relied upon to deliver early breakthroughs with the new ball and put pressure on the hosts. Roelof van der Merwe's experience will be crucial in taking wickets alongside Aryan Dutt. Shariz Ahmed and Timm van der Gugten will offer additional strength to the team's bowling attack.

Scott Edwards (c & wk), Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Roelof van der Merwe, Fred Klaassen, Shariz Ahmad, Teja Nidamanuru, Timm van der Gugten, Vivian Kingma, Aryan Dutt, Sybrand Engelbrecht

Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur features a spacious yet swift outfield. Batsmen find success at this venue, utilizing the opportunity to play their strokes freely. The track offers favorable conditions for spinners, with sharp turns in the ball's trajectory. However, fast bowlers may find limited advantages on this surface.

In the recent match played at this venue, we witnessed a high-scoring contest. The pitch was conducive for batting in the first innings but experienced a slight slowdown towards the end. Winning the toss becomes crucial, as the team opting to bat first can capitalize on the favorable conditions.

The Netherlands returns to this format after a considerable hiatus, which could pose a challenge in this contest. Their adversaries are likely to come at them aggressively, demanding a solid bowling performance for the Netherlands to secure victory. Nepal holds a commendable record at home and boasts a robust batting lineup, providing them with a competitive edge.