The Nepal national cricket team vs Netherlands national cricket team timeline is one of the most competitive rivalries in Associate cricket. The two sides first met in T20I cricket in 2015, before becoming ODI opponents after Nepal gained ODI status in 2018. Since then, their matches have produced close finishes, major tournament moments, record-breaking totals and several dramatic games.
The rivalry has developed particularly quickly over the past decade. The Netherlands won the first four-match T20I series between the teams in 2015, but Nepal responded with important victories in later years. Nepal won their first ODI in the second match of their inaugural 2018 ODI series, while the Netherlands have remained highly competitive in World Cup qualification and global tournaments.
The teams have also produced some extraordinary T20 cricket. Their 2025 meeting in Scotland required three Super Overs to separate them, while their 2024 T20 World Cup encounter in Dallas gave the Netherlands an important six-wicket victory. By July 2026, the sides had played nine ODIs and 15 T20Is, making this one of the more established rivalries among the leading Associate nations.
Nepal vs Netherlands Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Format | Match/Competition | Result | Key significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | T20I | Netherlands series | Netherlands won 18 runs | First official T20I meeting |
| 2015 | T20I | Netherlands series | Netherlands won 103 runs | Netherlands took 2-0 lead |
| 2015 | T20I | Netherlands series | Netherlands won 18 runs | Netherlands clinched series |
| 2015 | T20I | Netherlands series | Nepal won by 3 wickets | Nepal avoided 4-0 sweep |
| 2018 | T20I | Lord’s | No result | First meeting after Nepal gained ODI status |
| 2018 | ODI | Netherlands series | Netherlands won by 55 runs | Nepal’s first ODI |
| 2018 | ODI | Netherlands series | Nepal won by 1 run | Nepal’s first ODI victory |
| 2019 | T20I | Oman Pentangular Series | Nepal won by 4 wickets | Nepal won a tight chase |
| 2021 | T20I | Nepal Tri-Series | Nepal won by 9 wickets | Nepal dominated opening meeting |
| 2021 | T20I | Nepal Tri-Series | Netherlands won by 3 wickets | Netherlands responded |
| 2021 | T20I | Tri-Series final | Nepal won by 142 runs | Nepal won the tournament |
| 2023 | ODI | World Cup Qualifier | Netherlands won by 7 wickets | Netherlands advanced to Super Six |
| 2024 | ODI | Nepal home series | Nepal won by 9 wickets | Nepal produced a dominant chase |
| 2024 | ODI | Nepal home series | Netherlands won by 8 wickets | Netherlands levelled the ODI series |
| 2024 | T20I | Nepal Tri-Series | Netherlands won by 2 runs | Extremely close finish |
| 2024 | T20I | Nepal Tri-Series | Nepal won by 6 wickets | Nepal chased 121 |
| 2024 | T20I | Tri-Series final | Netherlands won by 4 wickets | Netherlands won the tournament |
| 2024 | T20I | T20 World Cup | Netherlands won by 6 wickets | Netherlands won in Dallas |
| 2025 | ODI | World Cup League 2 | Nepal won by 5 wickets | Nepal chased 226 |
| 2025 | ODI | World Cup League 2 | Nepal won by 16 runs | Nepal completed another victory |
| 2025 | T20I | Scotland Tri-Series | Netherlands won after Super Overs | Three Super Overs required |
| 2025 | T20I | Scotland Tri-Series | Nepal won by 6 wickets | Nepal bounced back |
| 2026 | ODI | World Cup League 2 | Netherlands won by 6 wickets | Netherlands won in Utrecht |
| 2026 | ODI | World Cup League 2 | Netherlands won by 57 runs | Netherlands completed 2-0 sweep |
2015: The Rivalry Begins in T20I Cricket
The modern international rivalry began in June 2015 when Nepal toured the Netherlands for a four-match T20I series.
The series was an important preparation exercise for the 2015 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. Both teams were competing in the Associate cricket pathway and were attempting to establish themselves as serious contenders for major tournaments.
The Netherlands won the opening match by 18 runs at Amstelveen.
They then produced an emphatic performance in the second match, scoring 172/4 before dismissing Nepal for 69. The Netherlands won by 103 runs, which at the time was their biggest T20I victory.
A third Dutch victory, by 18 runs, gave the Netherlands an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Nepal finished the series strongly, however. Paras Khadka’s 54 helped Nepal chase 140 in the fourth T20I, with Nepal winning by three wickets.
The Netherlands therefore won the inaugural bilateral T20I series 3-1.
2018: Nepal Enters ODI Cricket
The next major chapter came in 2018.
Nepal gained ODI status during the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, and the Netherlands became their first ODI opponent.
Before the ODI series, the teams were scheduled to play a T20I at Lord’s in London. The match ended without a result.
The historic ODI series followed in August.
First ODI: Netherlands win by 55 runs
The Netherlands scored 189 and dismissed Nepal for 134.
For Nepal, the match was historic regardless of the result because it marked the country’s first official ODI.
The Netherlands’ experience in the 50-over format gave them an advantage in the opening game.
Second ODI: Nepal win by one run
The second ODI immediately produced one of the closest results in the rivalry.
The Netherlands made 215, and Nepal chased the target successfully, reaching 216 to win by just one run.
That victory was historic.
It gave Nepal their first ODI win, and it also meant their first ODI series ended 1-1.
The two-match series remains one of the defining early moments in Nepal’s ODI history.
2019: Nepal Win a Tight T20I
The teams met again in the 2019 Oman Pentangular T20I Series.
Nepal won their match against the Netherlands by four wickets with one ball remaining.
It was another close encounter and continued a trend that had already become familiar: the teams were rarely separated by large margins when playing T20 cricket.
The result also gave Nepal another important T20I victory over the Dutch after their difficult first series in 2015.
2021: Nepal Dominate the Home Tri-Series
The rivalry entered a new phase in April 2021 when the Netherlands joined Nepal and Malaysia for a T20I tri-series in Kirtipur.
Nepal and the Netherlands met three times during the tournament.
Nepal win the opening match
Nepal chased 137 with remarkable ease.
Kushal Bhurtel scored 62 and helped Nepal reach 141/1 in only 15 overs.
Nepal won by nine wickets.
Netherlands respond
The Netherlands came back in the second meeting.
Nepal scored 206/6, but the Netherlands chased the target with three wickets remaining, reaching 209/7.
The result demonstrated that the Dutch batting lineup could match Nepal even while chasing a score above 200.
Nepal win the final
The two teams reached the final, where Nepal produced one of the most dominant performances in the rivalry.
Nepal posted 238/3, at the time their highest T20I total.
Kushal Bhurtel led the batting effort, while contributions from Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee pushed the score beyond 230.
The Netherlands were then bowled out for only 96.
Nepal won by 142 runs, their biggest victory against the Netherlands in T20I cricket.
The result gave Nepal the tri-series title and established the 2021 tournament as a major milestone in the rivalry.
2023: World Cup Qualification Adds Pressure
The next major ODI encounter came during the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.
Nepal were bowled out for 167 at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare.
The Netherlands chased the target in only 27.1 overs, reaching 168/3 to win by seven wickets.
Max O’Dowd played a major role with 90, while Bas de Leede remained unbeaten on 41.
Logan van Beek was particularly effective with the ball, taking 4/24.
The victory was important beyond the head-to-head record.
The Netherlands secured a place in the Super Six stage, while Nepal’s hopes of progressing from the group ended with the defeat.
The match therefore became one of the most consequential competitive meetings between the sides.
2024: Nepal and Netherlands Trade ODI Wins
The teams met twice in Nepal in February 2024.
Nepal win the first ODI
Nepal produced a commanding nine-wicket victory.
The Netherlands were bowled out for 137.
Nepal then chased the target comfortably, reaching 141/1.
The result gave Nepal a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Netherlands level the series
The second ODI produced a very different result.
Nepal were dismissed for 172.
The Netherlands responded with 173/2, winning by eight wickets.
The two sides therefore split the ODI series 1-1.
The contrasting matches highlighted the developing balance between the teams: Nepal could dominate at home, while the Netherlands remained capable of responding immediately.
2024 T20I Tri-Series: Three Very Different Matches
Before the T20 World Cup, Nepal, the Netherlands and Namibia contested a T20I tri-series in Kirtipur.
The Nepal-Netherlands meetings produced three different results.
Netherlands win by two runs
The Netherlands posted 184/4.
Nepal came close, scoring 182/8.
The Dutch therefore won by just two runs.
It was another example of how narrow the margin between the sides could be in T20 cricket.
Nepal win by six wickets
The next meeting went Nepal’s way.
The Netherlands were dismissed for 120.
Nepal reached 121/4 to win by six wickets.
Netherlands win the final
The teams met again in the final.
Nepal made 184/8.
The Netherlands successfully chased the target, reaching 189/6 to win by four wickets.
The victory gave the Netherlands the tri-series title.
2024 T20 World Cup: Netherlands Win in Dallas
One of the biggest tournament meetings in the rivalry came at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Nepal and the Netherlands met in Group D in Dallas.
Nepal struggled against the Dutch bowling attack and were bowled out for 106.
Tim Pringle took three wickets, while Logan van Beek also claimed three.
The Netherlands then chased the target, reaching 109/4 with seven balls remaining.
The Netherlands won by six wickets.
Max O’Dowd anchored the chase with an unbeaten half-century.
The result was significant because both teams were fighting for a chance to progress from a difficult group that also included South Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
2025: A Remarkable Super Over Thriller
The 2025 Scotland T20I Tri-Series produced perhaps the most extraordinary match in the entire rivalry.
Nepal scored 152/8.
The Netherlands also finished on 152/7.
A Super Over was therefore required.
The first Super Over was tied.
Another Super Over followed.
That too ended level.
The third Super Over finally separated the teams, with the Netherlands winning after scoring six without losing a wicket.
It was an extraordinary conclusion to a match that had already lasted through multiple tie-breakers.
The result became one of the defining games in the history of Associate-nation T20 cricket.
Nepal respond two days later
The teams met again on June 19.
The Netherlands scored 174/7.
Nepal chased the target, reaching 180/4 in 19.4 overs.
Nepal won by six wickets.
The result meant the two sides had traded victories in the Scotland tri-series.
2025 ODI League 2 Meetings
The teams also met twice in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series in Dundee.
Nepal win by five wickets
The Netherlands scored 225.
Nepal chased the target successfully, reaching 226/5 in 47.1 overs.
Nepal won by five wickets.
Nepal win by 16 runs
The second encounter was closer.
Nepal scored 236/9.
The Netherlands were dismissed for 220.
Nepal won by 16 runs.
The two victories gave Nepal a 2-0 record against the Netherlands in that 2025 League 2 series.
2026: Netherlands Take Control in Utrecht
The rivalry continued in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 in July 2026.
The teams met twice at Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd in Utrecht.
Netherlands win by six wickets
Nepal were bowled out for 157.
The Netherlands chased the target comfortably, reaching 158/4 in 44.1 overs.
Scott Edwards scored an unbeaten 61.
The Netherlands won by six wickets.
Netherlands win by 57 runs
The second match produced another Dutch victory.
The Netherlands scored 225/9, with Noah Croes making 70 and Scott Edwards contributing 57.
Nepal managed 168 all out.
The Netherlands therefore won by 57 runs and completed a 2-0 ODI sweep in the Utrecht meetings.
The two results also moved the overall ODI head-to-head record in the Netherlands’ favor.
Nepal vs Netherlands ODI Head-to-Head Record
Through July 29, 2026, Nepal and the Netherlands had played nine ODIs.
| ODI record | Nepal | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 9 | 9 |
| Wins | 4 | 5 |
| Losses | 5 | 4 |
| No results | 0 | 0 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
The Netherlands currently hold a narrow 5-4 advantage.
The most recent two ODI victories came from the Netherlands in July 2026, while Nepal had won the previous two meetings in the 2025 League 2 series.
That makes the ODI rivalry particularly balanced despite the Netherlands having the overall edge.
Nepal vs Netherlands T20I Head-to-Head Record
The teams had played 15 T20Is through June 19, 2025.
| T20I record | Nepal | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 15 | 15 |
| Wins | 6 | 7 |
| Losses | 7 | 6 |
| No results | 1 | 1 |
| Ties | 1 | 1 |
The Netherlands therefore hold a one-match advantage in the T20I record.
The unusual feature is the 2025 triple-Super-Over match, which is officially recorded as a tied match before the Netherlands won the third Super Over.
Major Records and Milestones
First T20I
The first official T20I between Nepal and the Netherlands took place on June 30, 2015.
The Netherlands won by 18 runs.
First ODI
Their first ODI came on August 1, 2018, after Nepal gained ODI status.
The Netherlands won by 55 runs.
Nepal’s first ODI victory
Nepal won their second ODI against the Netherlands by one run on August 3, 2018.
It was Nepal’s first-ever ODI victory.
Biggest T20I win for Nepal
Nepal defeated the Netherlands by 142 runs in the 2021 tri-series final.
Nepal scored 238/3 before dismissing the Netherlands for 96.
Biggest T20I win for the Netherlands
The Netherlands won by 103 runs in the second match of the 2015 series.
They scored 172/4 before bowling Nepal out for 69.
Closest ODI result
Nepal’s one-run victory over the Netherlands in 2018 remains the closest completed ODI result between the teams.
Most dramatic T20I
The 2025 Scotland meeting stands out because the match required three Super Overs before the Netherlands finally won.
Tournament Meetings
The rivalry has increasingly been shaped by qualification tournaments and ICC events.
Cricket World Cup Qualifier
The Netherlands defeated Nepal by seven wickets in the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
The victory helped the Netherlands reach the Super Six stage.
T20 World Cup
The teams met at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Dallas.
The Netherlands won by six wickets after restricting Nepal to 106.
Cricket World Cup League 2
League 2 has become one of the most important settings for this rivalry.
The teams met in 2025 in Dundee, where Nepal won both ODIs.
They then met twice in Utrecht in July 2026, with the Netherlands winning both matches.
Because League 2 contributes directly to the qualification pathway for the 2027 Cricket World Cup, these matches carry importance beyond the individual head-to-head record.
Why Nepal vs Netherlands Has Become a Competitive Rivalry
The rivalry is unusual because both teams have developed through the Associate cricket system while occasionally competing against Full Members and established international sides.
The Netherlands entered the modern era with a longer history in international cricket, while Nepal’s rise accelerated during the 2010s.
Nepal’s passionate home support has also become an important part of the matchup. The Kirtipur meetings have regularly attracted strong crowds, while Dutch home conditions have given the Netherlands an opportunity to use seam and disciplined bowling.
The styles of the two sides have changed as well.
Nepal have developed a reputation for producing explosive T20 batters and high-impact spin bowling. The Netherlands have built a versatile limited-overs attack around experienced players and an increasingly deep batting unit.
That combination has produced a large number of close matches.
Most Memorable Nepal vs Netherlands Matches
2018 ODI: Nepal win by one run
The second match of Nepal’s inaugural ODI series was decided by the smallest possible margin.
It gave Nepal their first ODI win.
2021 T20I final: Nepal win by 142 runs
Nepal’s 238/3 followed by the Netherlands’ 96 made this one of the most dominant performances in the rivalry.
2023 World Cup Qualifier: Netherlands win by seven wickets
The Dutch victory had major qualification implications and ended Nepal’s hopes of progressing in the tournament.
2024 T20 World Cup: Netherlands win by six wickets
The Netherlands’ bowling attack restricted Nepal to 106 before Max O’Dowd anchored the successful chase.
2025 T20I: Three Super Overs
The match in Glasgow was tied after regulation play and remained tied through two Super Overs.
The Netherlands finally won the third Super Over.
2026 ODI: Netherlands win by 57 runs
Noah Croes’ 70 helped the Netherlands reach 225/9 before their bowlers dismissed Nepal for 168.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Nepal and the Netherlands first play each other?
Nepal and the Netherlands first met in official men’s T20I cricket on June 30, 2015, in Amstelveen. The Netherlands won the opening match by 18 runs.
When did Nepal and the Netherlands first play an ODI?
Their first ODI was played on August 1, 2018, in Amstelveen. It was also Nepal’s first official ODI after receiving ODI status from the ICC. The Netherlands won by 55 runs.
Has Nepal ever beaten the Netherlands in an ODI?
Yes. Nepal’s first ODI victory came against the Netherlands on August 3, 2018. Nepal won by one run after successfully chasing the Dutch total of 215.
Who has the better head-to-head record between Nepal and the Netherlands?
The Netherlands have the narrow advantage in both major formats as of September 2026. In ODIs, the Netherlands lead 5-4 after nine matches. In T20Is, the Netherlands lead 7-6, with one no-result and one tied match.
What was the three-Super-Over match between Nepal and the Netherlands?
The teams met in Glasgow on June 16, 2025, during the Scotland T20I Tri-Series. Both sides scored 152 in their 20 overs. The first Super Over was tied, as was the second. The Netherlands eventually won the third Super Over, producing one of the most unusual finishes in international T20 cricket.
Conclusion
The Nepal national cricket team vs Netherlands national cricket team timeline shows how two leading Associate cricket nations have developed into closely matched international opponents.
The Netherlands dominated the first T20I series in 2015, but Nepal quickly established themselves as a serious rival. Nepal’s one-run ODI victory in 2018, their 142-run T20I triumph in 2021 and their two ODI wins over the Netherlands in 2025 were major milestones.
The Netherlands have continued to respond. Their 2023 World Cup Qualifier victory, 2024 T20 World Cup win and two ODI victories in Utrecht in July 2026 demonstrate their ability to perform in high-pressure matches.
Through July 2026, the rivalry stood at nine ODIs and 15 T20Is, with neither side holding a commanding overall advantage. With World Cup qualification, bilateral cricket and T20 tournaments continuing to bring them together, the matchup remains one of the most intriguing rivalries in Associate international cricket.
Read Also: ireland-cricket-team-vs-west-indies-cricket-team-timeline