In an unforgettable evening in Glasgow, cricket history was rewritten as the Netherlands triumphed over Nepal in the first-ever men’s professional match to stretch into a third Super Over. The pulsating T20I showdown, which had already delivered plenty in regulation time, escalated into an all-time classic as both teams refused to give in—until Michael Levitt sealed it with a towering six in the third tiebreaker.
Chasing 153, Nepal looked down and out at various stages, but Nandan Yadav’s nerveless 16-run final over blitz against Kyle Klein dragged the game into its first Super Over. The crowd, already buzzing from a tense finish, were about to witness cricketing drama never seen before.
How Things Unfolded?
Daniel Doram, who had shone during regular play with 3/14, was given the ball for the Netherlands in the first Super Over, but Kushal Bhurtel took him apart—two sixes and a four helped Nepal post 19. Undeterred, Netherlands responded with fireworks of their own.
Levitt smashed a six off the first delivery, and Max O'Dowd kept the contest alive with a six and four off the final two balls, tying the Super Over yet again.
With the tension at its peak, the second Super Over saw Netherlands score 17. Nepal began promisingly—Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee brought the equation to seven off the final delivery. Airee, channeling nerves of steel, launched Klein over cow corner to pull off yet another tie. The crowd could hardly believe it—this match was going into uncharted territory.
The Third Super Over
Then came the third and decisive Super Over. Offspinner Zach Lion-Cachet, brought into the cauldron, delivered two clutch wickets—Paudel and debutant Rupesh Singh fell without scoring. Nepal ended with a duck. It was finally Levitt, fittingly one of the heroes of the game, who blasted Sandeep Lamichhane over long-on to clinch victory and end the roller-coaster contest.
Earlier in the day, Ben Fletcher had a dream start to his T20I career, removing Lokesh Bam with a peach. Klein joined the party soon after, dismissing Anil Sah as Nepal staggered to 9 for 2. But Bhurtel’s aggressive 34 and Paudel’s composure reignited Nepal’s chase. Doram’s brilliance, removing Bhurtel, Airee, and Thagunna, pegged Nepal back once again as they reached 97/5 in 15 overs.
Rupesh Singh’s cameo and a late flurry from Paudel and Karan KC pushed Nepal into contention, but it was Nandan’s final-over effort that turned the match into a legend.
Earlier, Netherlands, sent in to bat, were well set at 52/1 before spinners swung the momentum. Rajbanshi removed O'Dowd, and Lamichhane’s double-wicket over—clean bowling Levitt and dismissing skipper Scott Edwards—further dented the Dutch charge. Still, late-order hitting from Saqib Zulfiqar took them to a competitive 152.
