Netherlands triumph in historic T20 after three super overs against Nepal
It is the first time that a men's professional match – either T20 or List A – has gone to a third super over with the Dutch opener Michael Levitt finally clubbing a six to clinch his side's memorable triumph.
The Netherlands looked to be cruising to victory after setting a target of 153 and with Nepal needing 16 runs from the last over and tailenders Sandeep Lamichhane and Nandan Yadav at the crease.
But after Lamichhane rotated the strike, Yadav hit two boundaries including one off the last ball of the innings through cover to level the scores.
The momentum stayed with Nepal in the first super over as Kushal Bhurtel blasted two sixes and a four to lift his side to 19-1 before being caught off the last ball.
Levitt kicked off the Netherlands' chase with a six before leaving Max O'Dowd with plenty to do until the opener smashed a six and a boundary to again finish all square with Nepal.
A historic 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 super overs between the Netherlands and Nepal at @DaleCricket today 😲 pic.twitter.com/a9AMq6z4oX
The Netherlands returned to the crease to start the second super over with the captain, Scott Edwards, smashing the first ball over the rope and O'Dowd soon adding another six with a strong square cut as the pair finished on 17-1.
The Nepal skipper, Rohit Paudel, led his side's reply with a first-ball maximum while opening partner Dipendra Singh Airee ended the over with a slog for six to take the contest into a historic third super over.
Sign up to The Spin
Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action
after newsletter promotion
But the wheels fell off from there for Nepal as Paudel was caught on the boundary off the first ball and Dutch off-spinner Zach Lion-Cachet claimed a second scalp to end the innings before the batting side had scored.
Levitt only needed a single to seal the win but finished a remarkable match in dramatic style with a six over long-on off Lamichhane's first ball of the third super over.
Nepal will be back in action against Scotland on Tuesday as part of the T20 tri-series, while the Netherlands have time to look back on their incredible moment of cricket history as the winner of the first triple super over.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
How prepared are Celtic for new season?
In just over three weeks, Celtic start the defence of their Scottish Premiership title at home to St Mirren on 3 the opening month of their campaign, Brendan Rodgers' side will also have to navigate a Champions League to Aberdeen and Rangers are also included in a tricky looking introduction to the 2025-26 BBC Scotland looked at where Celtic stand less than a month before they start their competitive action - but we want your Greg Taylor has departed the club, while winger Nicolas Kuhn is also poised to exit in a big-money squad has been strengthened by the return of Kieran Tierney, as well as the arrivals of Benjamin Nygren, Hayato Inamura, Callum Osmand and goalkeeper Ross how much more work needs done in the transfer market? Which areas need to be addressed? And do you have your eye on anyone in particular? Send us your thoughts
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Lauren James has ‘something special' to inspire England
England defender Lucy Bronze is convinced Lauren James can make an unparalleled contribution to Euro 2025 after the forward's two-goal night inspired the Lionesses to a vital victory over the Netherlands. The defending champions bounced back from a disappointing tournament-opening defeat to France with an emphatic 4-0 win, and will now reach the quarter-finals if they beat Wales in St Gallen on Sunday night. Chelsea forward James only returned from a three-month hamstring lay-off in late June but, moved out wide on Wednesday night, reminded everyone watching how capable a catalyst she is. 'We know we just need to get LJ the ball in dangerous positions and there could be a goal from anything,' said James' Chelsea team-mate Bronze. 'She's probably the best player in this entire tournament for something special. 'There's a lot of special players in this tournament. I know the likes of (Alexia) Putellas and (Aitana) Bonmati, a huge amount of talented players, but LJ's got that something special. 'She's only young, she's not at 100 per cent yet, so hopefully we get through the tournament and she just keeps getting better and better.' James opened the scoring with a stunning top-corner strike, then added a second at the hour mark, becoming just the second England player after Ellen White to net braces at both the World Cup and the Euros. The 23-year-old was also involved in England's second goal, delivering the free-kick that ultimately led to Georgia Stanway firing the Lionesses out to a 2-0 lead at the break. Ella Toone made it four in the 67th minute, when Alessia Russo also added a third assist. Brighton forward Nikita Parris, part of Sarina Wiegman's Euro 2022-winning squad, told the BBC: 'There's no ceiling on her talent – we're looking at a potential global star', while Russo said James 'creates something out of nothing'. Toone told BBC Radio 5 Live James was 'the most chilled person I've ever met, ever played with', a sentiment shared by defender Jess Carter, who told the broadcaster: 'There is pressure on her to perform but the best players thrive under pressure and that's what Lauren does. 'She's a phenomenal player and we all know that she's an incredible talent and I'm glad she's on my team.' Stanway agreed James brings 'something different to what we have got', but pointed out to BBC One: 'Everyone has to do their job in order for LJ to do hers.' Among those doing their bit was goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who provided a superb long pass to Russo in the build-up to James' opener, described by the Arsenal striker as 'unreal'. Bronze, Hampton's clubmate at Chelsea, added: 'Yeah, I mean, we know how talented Hannah is. Obviously I play with her every single day, so I know that she's got that ability. 'She's still a very young player as well, so she's still kind of learning the trade. But we can see it in training, the passes she makes. 'She does it a lot in games actually as well, but that one was obviously really special today and it really got the team going and gave a lot of people confidence.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
How striker-turned-keeper Hampton is helping England's Euros bid
"I do miss scoring goals, I can't lie," Hannah Hampton said two days before England claimed a commanding 4-0 victory over the Netherlands at Euro goalkeeper might not have made it on to the scoresheet at Stadion Letzigrund on Wednesday night, but her sublime defence-splitting pass kickstarted the attack for the Lionesses' first goal and set the tempo for a statement played as a striker in her youth football days, the 24-year-old's impressive passing ability, sharp vision and attacking mind-set come as no drilled pass to Alessia Russo sliced through the entire Netherlands team, allowing the England striker to drive upfield before slipping the ball to Lauren James for a fantastic left-foot finish."The bravery to play that pass in a game like this, for me, says everything you need to know about her mindset," said former England keeper Karen striker Ellen White added: "Exquisite, perfection, this is what Hannah Hampton can bring to this England team." 'Hampton got it right in the right moments' Initially a striker, Hampton was part of the Villareal academy and only made the switch to being a goalkeeper aged 12 at Stoke City after her family had returned to forward to 2025, and she is England's number one at the European her position as the Lionesses' first-choice shot-stopper was not entirely definitive until six weeks ago, with Mary Earps still challenging for the jersey right up until her shock retirement from international absence of Earps - the Golden Glove winner at the 2023 World Cup - left questions over Hampton's ability to cope with the pressure of a major Chelsea keeper's performance against the Netherlands has now put some of those doubts to rest. While she had very few saves to make, she impressed with the ball at her feet - helping England get their title defence back on track after their 2-1 defeat by France in their opening game."The first task is to prevent goals but if you have a goalkeeper who plays well [with her feet], that's an added value," said England boss Sarina Wiegman after the win over her home country."She's a brilliant passer. She's really good with her feet, we know that, right and left. And today she got it right in the right moments." 'Outstanding' Hampton 'sets England on their way' Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis said she hoped Hampton's "sublime" performance "builds her confidence". "Her distribution was fantastic, she pretty much set up the first goal with that long through-ball," Brown-Finnis added."To produce something like that in your first major tournament as a starter was sensational."Only right-back Lucy Bronze, with 12, made more line-breaking passes than Hampton's six for England against the highly ranked Dutch team."That pass for Lauren James' opening goal was unreal," ex-Lionesses keeper Siobhan Chamberlain told BBC Radio 5 Live."The curve on it, the way that she had the vision to see it. You can have the vision to see something as a player, but to be able to execute it in the moment is outstanding. That was such a good pass to set England on their way." As well as her defence-splitting pass for James' opener, Hampton initiated the build-up for England's third goal, pinging a long-range ball over the Netherlands' defence for Russo to run onto before James - after a scramble in the box - fired played a key role as Chelsea won a domestic treble last season, her Blues and England team-mate Lucy Bronze said it's well known "how talented Hannah is"."Obviously I play with her every single day, so I know that she's got that ability," Bronze added."She's still a very young player as well, so she's still kind of learning the trade. But we can see it in training, the passes she makes."That one was obviously really special today and it really got the team going and gave a lot of people confidence."
