Nepal cricket team faced a 55-run defeat in their first-ever One-Day International (ODI). The Paras Khadka-led side was apparently making their ODI debut against the Netherlands. Chasing a paltry target of 190 at the VRA Ground in Amstelveen, the visitors were bundled out for 134 runs in 41.5 overs. The debutants lost their last nine wickets for just 49 runs and that took the game away from them.

In response to the Netherlands 189, Nepal got off to a positive start as openers Anil Sah and Gyanendra Malla added 58 runs for the first wicket. Anil (21) was the first wicket to go down, but Malla continued to play his shots. In the process, he completed his half-century and apparently became the first Nepali batsman to score an ODI fifty. Netherlands vs Nepal 1st ODI Full Scorecard.

Nepal were looking on course for a historic win, but then the Netherlands spinners Michael Rippon and Pieter Seelaar turned the tide in their team’s favour. The duo picked six wickets between them as Nepal found themselves in all sorts of trouble.

The visiting side kept losing wickets as middle-order completely failed to show some resistance. Four Nepal batsmen failed to get off the mark. Opener Malla was top-scorer for his side with 51 off 61 balls. For the Netherlands, Rippon, Seelaar and left-arm medium pacer, Fred Klaassen picked three wickets each. Bas de Leede chipped in with a wicket as well. Paras Khadka Says Nepal Cricket Team’s ODI Debut 'Only the Beginning'.

Batting first, after Rippon’s 76-ball 51, the home side managed to score 189 before being bowled out. Nepal skipper, Khadka was the star performer with the ball for his side as he returned with impressive figures of 4/26 in his quota of 10 overs. Right-arm fast-medium bowler Sompal Kami picked 3/34. The two sides will now meet in the second and final ODI at the same venue on August 03.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 01, 2018 10:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).