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Amstelveen: Michael Swart and Ben Cooper hit half-centuries as the Netherlands beat Nepal by 103 runs in the second Twenty20 International at the VRA Ground in Amstelveen on Wednesday.
In doing so, the home side took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series that serves as preparation for the ICC World T20 qualifiers to be held in Ireland and Scotland from July 6 to 16.
After being sent in to bat, the Netherlands posted 172 for 4, with the second-wicket stand of 131 between Swart (76) and Cooper (66) being the highlight. In reply, only three Nepal batsmen managed to get into double digits, and the side was bowled out for 69 in 17.4 overs.
Nepal made an early breakthrough, with Tobias Visee, the Netherlands opener, falling in the fifth over of the match. But after that, 12 fours and four sixes were hit over the next 14 overs. While the Netherlands batsmen made merry, Sompal Kami, the medium pacer, returned good figures of 2 for 24 in four overs.
Nepal's hope of reaching the target rested on Paras Khadka, the captain. But his dismissal for 2 in the third over was an early setback, and Michael Rippon, the chinaman bowler, ran through the middle order with a spell of 3 for 13 off four overs to derail the chase.
At one stage, Nepal was in danger of being bowled out under 50 as it slipped to 29 for 7 by the eighth over, but the tail held on to stretch the total. Sharad Vesawkar, the No. 7 batsman, top-scored with 18 and was also the last man to be dismissed.
The third T20I will be played in Rotterdam on Thursday.
