Thailand, under the leadership of skipper Naruemol Chaiwai, triumphed over the host nation, Nepal, by four wickets in the third match of the Tri-nation series. In a quick succession, the hosts are preparing to take on the Netherlands, led by skipper Babette de Leede, in the fourth match of the series at the Tribhuvan University International Stadium in Nepal.
The Netherlands captain Babette de Leede won the toss and chose to bat first. The visiting batsmen established strong partnerships, leading to a commendable total of 140/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
The standout 48-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Heather Siegers (26 off 23 balls) and skipper Babette de Leede (41 off 38 balls) proved pivotal in pushing the Dutch closer to the 150-run milestone.
Skipper Babette de Leede fell just nine runs short of a well-earned half-century, while Robine Rijke (21 off 15 balls) and Phebe Molkenboer (21 off 16 balls) added necessary momentum to the innings for the Netherlands.
Sita Rana Magar (3-0-12-5) delivered an outstanding bowling performance, capturing her second five-wicket haul in this format for Nepal. Manisha Upadhayay (4-0-31-2), Kabita Joshi (3-0-20-1), and skipper Indu Barma (3-0-21-1) contributed effectively with the ball for Nepal.
Facing a target of 141, the home team fell short by 15 runs, finishing at 125/8 in their 20 overs due to the disciplined bowling from the Netherlands. Consequently, the hosts continue their quest for their first win in the tri-nation series.
Nepal got off to a decent start with opening batsmen Samjhana Khadka (23 off 25 balls) and Mamta Chaudhary forming a partnership that yielded 31 runs, scoring at just over 6 runs per over during the powerplay.
Key partnerships ensued, including a 37-run stand for the third wicket between skipper Indu Barma and Puja Mahato (18 off 18 balls), followed by a crucial 29-run partnership for the fourth wicket involving skipper Indu Barma (30 off 32 balls) and Kabita Joshi (14 off 15 balls), keeping Nepal’s chase alive.
However, a sudden collapse saw them lose their next four wickets for just 25 runs after having reached 100/4 in the 17th over. Sita Rana Magar (10 off 6 balls) was the sole Nepalese batter to reach double digits during the chase.
Iris Zwilling (4-1-15-2), Heather Siegers (2-0-10-2), and Caroline de Lange (4-0-31-2) each claimed two wickets for the Netherlands, while Eva Lynch (4-0-22-1) and Silver Siegers (4-0-20-0) also shone with the ball.
Heather Siegers earned the Player of the Match award for her significant all-round performance, scoring 26 runs off 23 balls and delivering impressive bowling figures of 2-0-10-2, playing a key role in the Netherlands’ return to form in the ongoing Tri-nation series.
Image Source: Heather Siegers @ Instagram
