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The Nepal National Cricket Team vs Netherlands National Cricket Team timeline is a fascinating story of two ambitious Associate cricket nations developing into regular opponents on the international stage. Unlike many traditional cricket rivalries that stretch back decades, Nepal and the Netherlands have built their modern rivalry largely during the last decade.
Their head-to-head history began with T20I cricket in 2015 before expanding into ODI cricket after Nepal received ODI status in 2018. Since then, the two sides have met in World Cup qualifiers, Cricket World Cup League 2, T20I tri-series competitions, and the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The rivalry has become particularly memorable because of its close finishes. Nepal’s one-run ODI victory in 2018, the Netherlands’ World Cup victories, and the extraordinary three-Super-Over T20I in 2025 have all added major chapters to the story.
By 2026, the teams were still meeting regularly in ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, with the Netherlands winning both of their July 2026 encounters in Utrecht.
Nepal vs Netherlands Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Format | Major Event | Result/Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | T20I | Four-match series | Netherlands won 3–1 |
| 2016 | ODI | World Cricket League | Netherlands won |
| 2018 | ODI | Nepal’s first ODI series | Netherlands won 1st; Nepal won 2nd by 1 run |
| 2019 | T20I | Oman Pentangular Series | Nepal won by 4 wickets |
| 2021 | T20I | Nepal Tri-Nation Series | Nepal won tournament |
| 2023 | ODI | World Cup Qualifier | Netherlands won by 7 wickets |
| 2024 | ODI | Cricket World Cup League 2 | Teams split the matches |
| 2024 | T20I | T20 World Cup | Netherlands won by 6 wickets |
| 2024 | T20I | Nepal Tri-Series | Netherlands won final |
| 2025 | ODI | World Cup League 2 | Nepal won both matches |
| 2025 | T20I | Scotland Tri-Series | Netherlands won historic triple Super Over |
| 2026 | ODI | World Cup League 2 | Netherlands won both matches |
2015: The Rivalry Begins
The modern Nepal vs Netherlands rivalry officially began in June 2015, when Nepal toured the Netherlands for a four-match T20I series.
At that point, both countries were established Associate cricket nations looking to strengthen their international schedules.
The Netherlands won the series 3–1, although Nepal managed to finish the tour with a victory.
2015 T20I Series
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Netherlands won by 18 runs |
| 2nd T20I | Netherlands won by 103 runs |
| 3rd T20I | Netherlands won by 18 runs |
| 4th T20I | Nepal won |
| Series | Netherlands won 3–1 |
The second match was especially dominant. The Netherlands scored 172/4 before restricting Nepal to just 69.
Stephan Myburgh was among the Netherlands’ leading performers during the series, while Ahsan Malik made a major impact with the ball.
For Nepal, captain Paras Khadka was an important contributor.
The 2015 series established the Netherlands as the early leader in the rivalry.
2016: World Cricket League Encounter
The teams continued to meet in the ICC World Cricket League environment in 2016.
These competitions were particularly important for Associate nations because they provided regular 50-over cricket and a pathway toward major ICC tournaments.
The Netherlands again demonstrated its strength in the longer limited-overs format, defeating Nepal in their meeting at Amstelveen.
This period helped create the foundation for what would eventually become a regular Nepal-Netherlands ODI rivalry.
2018: Nepal Gains ODI Status
A major turning point came in 2018.
Nepal achieved official ODI status, and the Netherlands became one of its first ODI opponents.
The two teams played a two-match ODI series in the Netherlands.
2018 ODI Series
| ODI | Result |
|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Netherlands won by 55 runs |
| 2nd ODI | Nepal won by 1 run |
| Series | Drawn 1–1 |
The first match was a landmark because it represented Nepal’s first official ODI.
The Netherlands won by 55 runs.
The second ODI became one of the most memorable matches in Nepal’s early ODI history.
Nepal scored 216, while the Netherlands were dismissed for 215, giving Nepal a dramatic one-run victory.
Nepal’s First ODI Victory
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Nepal | 216 |
| Netherlands | 215 |
| Result | Nepal won by 1 run |
The victory was especially significant because it came immediately after Nepal had lost its first ODI.
It also demonstrated that Nepal could compete successfully against an established Associate opponent in the 50-over format.
2019: Nepal Wins in Oman
Nepal and the Netherlands met again during the 2019 Oman Pentangular Series.
Nepal chased down the Netherlands’ total of 133 and won by four wickets.
| Year | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Oman Pentangular Series | Nepal won by 4 wickets |
This was another important step in Nepal’s development and showed that the head-to-head battle was becoming increasingly competitive.
2021: A Major T20I Chapter
The teams met repeatedly during the 2021 Nepal Tri-Nation T20I Series, which also included Malaysia.
The opening meeting was won by Nepal by nine wickets.
The Netherlands then responded in the second meeting, winning by three wickets.
Nepal dominated the final.
2021 T20I Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| First meeting | Nepal won by 9 wickets |
| Second meeting | Netherlands won by 3 wickets |
| Final | Nepal won by 142 runs |
The final was particularly emphatic.
Nepal scored 238/3, one of the highest T20I totals by an Associate team at the time, before bowling the Netherlands out for 96.
Nepal’s victory by 142 runs underlined the batting strength of the side led by players such as Paras Khadka, Dipendra Singh Airee and other emerging talents.
2023: World Cup Qualifier Battle
The stakes increased considerably in 2023 when Nepal and the Netherlands met during the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.
The match was important because both teams were attempting to progress through the qualification tournament toward the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Nepal were bowled out for 167.
The Netherlands chased the target comfortably, reaching 168/3 and winning by seven wickets.
2023 World Cup Qualifier
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Nepal | 167 |
| Netherlands | 168/3 |
| Result | Netherlands won by 7 wickets |
| Tournament | ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier |
The victory helped the Netherlands advance through the competition and eventually qualify for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
For Nepal, the defeat was part of a difficult qualification campaign.
2024: A Busy Year for Nepal vs Netherlands Cricket
The rivalry became much more active in 2024.
The teams played each other in ODI cricket, T20I cricket, a tri-series in Nepal, and the T20 World Cup.
2024 ODI Meetings
The two teams met twice in the Cricket World Cup League 2 competition in February.
Nepal won the first encounter by nine wickets.
The Netherlands responded in the second, winning by eight wickets.
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 17 February 2024 | Nepal won by 9 wickets |
| 25 February 2024 | Netherlands won by 8 wickets |
The results illustrated how closely matched the teams could be in ODI cricket.
2024 T20I Tri-Series
The teams also played three T20Is against each other during a tri-series in Nepal.
The Netherlands won the opening meeting by just two runs.
Nepal responded by winning the next encounter by six wickets.
The Netherlands then won the final by four wickets.
2024 T20I Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| 28 February | Netherlands won by 2 runs |
| 2 March | Nepal won by 6 wickets |
| 5 March – Final | Netherlands won by 4 wickets |
The final was particularly important because the Netherlands chased Nepal’s 184/8, reaching 189/6.
The Netherlands therefore won the tri-series title.
2024 T20 World Cup: Netherlands Wins in Dallas
One of the biggest matches in the rivalry came at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Nepal and the Netherlands were drawn in Group D, alongside South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The match was played at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on 4 June 2024.
Nepal struggled against the Dutch bowling attack and were bowled out for 106.
The Netherlands chased the target successfully, reaching 109/4 and winning by six wickets with seven balls remaining.
2024 T20 World Cup Match
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Nepal | 106 all out |
| Netherlands | 109/4 |
| Result | Netherlands won by 6 wickets |
| Venue | Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas |
| Tournament | T20 World Cup |
Max O’Dowd was the Netherlands’ key batter, remaining unbeaten on 54 from 48 balls.
The result gave the Netherlands an important victory at a global tournament.
2025: Nepal Takes Control in ODI Cricket
The teams returned to ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 in Scotland during June 2025.
This time Nepal produced two consecutive ODI victories.
2025 ODI Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| 4 June | Nepal won by 5 wickets |
| 10 June | Nepal won by 16 runs |
| Series/Meetings | Nepal won both |
In the first match, Nepal chased a target of 226.
In the second, Nepal defended 236/9 to win by 16 runs.
These victories represented an important response after the Netherlands had dominated several of their recent meetings.
2025: The Triple Super Over
The most extraordinary match in the Nepal National Cricket Team vs Netherlands National Cricket Team timeline took place in Glasgow on 16 June 2025.
Nepal and the Netherlands met in the Scotland T20I Tri-Series.
Both teams scored 152 in their 20 overs.
That forced a Super Over.
But the first Super Over also ended level, with both teams scoring 19.
A second Super Over followed and again failed to separate the teams.
For the first time in men’s international cricket, the match went to a third Super Over.
The Netherlands eventually won the third Super Over. ICC described it as the first-ever triple Super Over in international cricket.
2025 Triple Super Over
| Stage | Result |
|---|---|
| Regulation innings | Nepal 152 – Netherlands 152 |
| First Super Over | Both teams scored 19 |
| Second Super Over | Still tied |
| Third Super Over | Netherlands won |
| Final result | Netherlands won |
The match instantly became one of the most unusual games in international cricket history.
2025: Nepal Responds
Nepal did not allow the triple-Super-Over defeat to define the series.
On 19 June 2025, Nepal defeated the Netherlands by six wickets.
The Netherlands scored 174/7, but Nepal chased the target by reaching 180/4.
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Netherlands | 174/7 |
| Nepal | 180/4 |
| Result | Nepal won by 6 wickets |
The result provided another example of the competitive nature of the rivalry.
2026: Netherlands Wins Two ODI Meetings
The latest major chapter came in July 2026, when Nepal and the Netherlands met twice in ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 in Utrecht.
The Netherlands won both matches.
23 July 2026
Nepal were bowled out for 157.
The Netherlands chased the target, reaching 158/4 and winning by six wickets.
29 July 2026
The Netherlands again batted first and scored 225/9.
Nepal were dismissed for 168, giving the Netherlands a 57-run victory. The two July victories gave the Netherlands a 2–0 advantage in those meetings.
2026 ODI Meetings
| Date | Netherlands | Nepal | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 July | 158/4 | 157 | Netherlands won by 6 wickets |
| 29 July | 225/9 | 168 | Netherlands won by 57 runs |
These matches are the latest completed Nepal-Netherlands meetings in the timeline as of September 2026.
Nepal vs Netherlands Head-to-Head
The two sides have become regular opponents across ODI and T20I cricket.
Based on the completed matches through 2026, the Netherlands have a narrow overall advantage in both formats, although the margin is relatively small and has changed repeatedly over the years.
ODI Rivalry
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| ODI meetings through July 2026 | 9 |
| Nepal wins | 4 |
| Netherlands wins | 5 |
| No results | 0 |
| Ties | 0 |
The Netherlands’ two victories in July 2026 moved them to a 5–4 advantage in the ODI head-to-head.
T20I Rivalry
T20I records have also remained competitive, with the teams producing several narrow finishes and the historic triple-Super-Over contest.
| Feature | Notable Result |
|---|---|
| First T20I series | Netherlands won 3–1 in 2015 |
| Biggest Nepal T20I win | 142 runs in 2021 |
| 2024 T20 World Cup | Netherlands won by 6 wickets |
| Closest modern thriller | Triple Super Over in 2025 |
| Latest major T20I meeting | Nepal won by 6 wickets in June 2025 |
Major Players in the Rivalry
Nepal
| Player | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Paras Khadka | Former captain and major early-era batter |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | Influential leg-spinner |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | All-rounder and powerful T20 batter |
| Rohit Paudel | Modern captain and top-order batter |
| Kushal Bhurtel | Opening batter |
| Aasif Sheikh | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Karan KC | Fast-bowling all-rounder |
| Sompal Kami | Experienced all-rounder |
Netherlands
| Player | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Peter Borren | Important early-era captain |
| Stephan Myburgh | Powerful T20 opener |
| Ahsan Malik | Key bowler in the 2015 series |
| Max O’Dowd | Experienced opening batter |
| Scott Edwards | Modern captain and wicketkeeper |
| Bas de Leede | Batting and bowling all-rounder |
| Logan van Beek | All-rounder and big-match performer |
| Paul van Meekeren | Experienced fast bowler |
Famous Nepal vs Netherlands Matches
| Year | Match | Memorable Moment |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2nd T20I | Netherlands won by 103 runs |
| 2018 | 2nd ODI | Nepal won by 1 run |
| 2021 | T20I final | Nepal won by 142 runs |
| 2023 | World Cup Qualifier | Netherlands won by 7 wickets |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup | Netherlands won by 6 wickets |
| 2024 | T20I tri-series final | Netherlands won by 4 wickets |
| 2025 | ODI | Nepal won by 5 wickets |
| 2025 | ODI | Nepal won by 16 runs |
| 2025 | T20I | Netherlands won after 3 Super Overs |
| 2026 | ODI | Netherlands won by 6 wickets |
| 2026 | ODI | Netherlands won by 57 runs |
Key Milestones in the Nepal vs Netherlands Timeline
- 2015: The first official T20I series between Nepal and the Netherlands took place.
- 2015: The Netherlands won the series 3–1.
- 2018: Nepal played its first ODI against the Netherlands after receiving ODI status.
- 2018: Nepal secured its first ODI victory by beating the Netherlands by one run.
- 2019: Nepal defeated the Netherlands in the Oman Pentangular Series.
- 2021: Nepal defeated the Netherlands by 142 runs in a T20I final.
- 2023: The Netherlands defeated Nepal in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
- 2024: The Netherlands defeated Nepal at the T20 World Cup in Dallas.
- 2024: Nepal and the Netherlands exchanged ODI victories in World Cup League 2.
- 2025: Nepal won two consecutive ODI meetings in Scotland.
- 2025: The Netherlands defeated Nepal in the first-ever triple-Super-Over international.
- 2026: The Netherlands won both July ODI meetings in Utrecht.
Why Is the Nepal vs Netherlands Rivalry Special?
The rivalry is special because it represents the growth of Associate cricket.
Both nations have worked to establish themselves against stronger cricketing countries, and regular matches between them have provided high-quality international competition.
The contests have also been unusually dramatic.
The 2018 one-run ODI, the 2021 142-run T20I victory, the 2024 T20 World Cup meeting, and especially the 2025 triple Super Over show how quickly the rivalry has developed.
Unlike some traditional cricket rivalries where one team has dominated for decades, Nepal and the Netherlands have repeatedly exchanged victories.
That competitive balance has made their matches particularly attractive to cricket fans interested in the development of international cricket outside the traditional Full Member nations.
Conclusion
The Nepal National Cricket Team vs Netherlands National Cricket Team timeline is relatively young compared with the history of Test cricket, but it has already produced numerous memorable moments.
The rivalry began with the Netherlands’ 3–1 T20I series victory in 2015. Nepal then earned ODI status and immediately produced a historic one-run victory over the Netherlands in 2018.
The following years brought World Cup qualification battles, the 2024 T20 World Cup encounter, competitive ODI League 2 matches, and one of the most extraordinary T20I matches ever played.
The 2025 triple-Super-Over thriller remains the standout moment, while the Netherlands’ two ODI victories in July 2026 represent the latest completed chapter.
With both teams continuing to compete in ICC qualification pathways and major global tournaments, the Nepal vs Netherlands rivalry is likely to remain an important fixture in Associate and international cricket.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When did Nepal and the Netherlands first play each other?
Nepal and the Netherlands first played a four-match T20I series in 2015. The Netherlands won the series 3–1.
2. When did Nepal first beat the Netherlands in ODI cricket?
Nepal recorded its first ODI victory over the Netherlands on 3 August 2018, winning by just one run. Nepal scored 216 and dismissed the Netherlands for 215.
3. Who won the Nepal vs Netherlands match at the 2024 T20 World Cup?
The Netherlands won by six wickets in Dallas. Nepal scored 106 all out, while the Netherlands reached 109/4. Max O’Dowd scored an unbeaten 54.
4. What happened in the famous Nepal vs Netherlands match in 2025?
The teams played a historic T20I in Glasgow that required three Super Overs after the regulation match and the first two Super Overs could not separate them. The Netherlands eventually won the third Super Over.
5. Who won the latest Nepal vs Netherlands matches?
The latest completed ODI meetings took place in July 2026 in Utrecht. The Netherlands won both matches, first by six wickets on 23 July and then by 57 runs on 29 July.