Few Associate cricket rivalries have produced as many twists as Netherlands vs Nepal. Their meetings have featured one-run thrillers, big defeats, World Cup qualification pressure and even a historic triple Super Over. The Netherlands vs Nepal cricket timeline stretches across ODI and T20I cricket, with the balance shifting repeatedly between the two teams. As of August 2026, the Netherlands hold the edge in both formats, but Nepal have repeatedly shown they can turn the matchup into a close contest.
Quick Summary
- ODI meetings: 9
- Netherlands ODI wins: 5
- Nepal ODI wins: 4
- T20I meetings: 13
- Netherlands T20I wins: 7
- Nepal T20I wins: 5
- T20I no-results: 1
- Latest ODI meeting: Netherlands won by 57 runs on July 29, 2026
- Most dramatic T20I: Netherlands won after three Super Overs in June 2025
Netherlands vs Nepal Head-to-Head Record
The overall rivalry has become increasingly competitive as Nepal have established themselves as a stronger international side.
In ODIs, the Netherlands lead 5-4 after nine meetings. The first official ODI encounters came in 2016, and the two sides have since met regularly in ICC World Cup qualification competitions. The latest two matches, both played in Utrecht in July 2026, were won by the Netherlands.
The T20I record is slightly more favourable to the Dutch. Across 13 matches, Netherlands have won seven, Nepal five and one match ended without a result.
| Format | Matches | Netherlands Wins | Nepal Wins | Other |
| ODI | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| T20I | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 No Result |
| Overall | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 |
That 12-9 overall record illustrates how little separates the teams. This is not a matchup where one side has consistently dominated.
Netherlands vs Nepal ODI Timeline
2016: Netherlands make a strong start
The ODI rivalry began in August 2016 during the ICC World Cricket League Championship. Netherlands won the first meeting by seven wickets, successfully chasing Nepal’s 94 all out.
Two days later, Nepal responded in style. They scored 217/9 and defeated the Netherlands by 19 runs. The early series immediately established the pattern that would define this rivalry: one team wins comfortably, and the other tends to answer back.
2018: A one-run classic
The 2018 ODI series in the Netherlands produced one of the closest finishes in the entire rivalry.
In the first ODI at Amstelveen, Netherlands scored 189 and bowled Nepal out for 134, winning by 55 runs.
Nepal then produced a dramatic response in the second ODI. Netherlands made 215, but Nepal edged the chase with 216, winning by just one run. It remains one of the defining results in the Netherlands vs Nepal cricket timeline.
2023: Netherlands regain the advantage
The next ODI meeting came in June 2023 during the Cricket World Cup qualification cycle.
Netherlands scored 168/3 after Nepal were dismissed for 167. Max O’Dowd and the Dutch chase made the difference as Netherlands won by seven wickets.
This was another reminder that the Netherlands’ batting depth could be difficult for Nepal to contain, especially when the Dutch top order settled into a chase.
2024: Nepal strike back before Netherlands respond
The 2024 ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 fixtures in Kirtipur produced two contrasting results.
On February 17, Nepal bowled Netherlands out for 137 before reaching 141/1. Nepal won by nine wickets, one of their most convincing ODI victories against the Dutch.
Eight days later, Netherlands reversed the result. They chased Nepal’s 172 and reached 173/2, winning by eight wickets.
The two games perfectly captured the competitive nature of the rivalry: Nepal dominated one match, while Netherlands answered with equal authority.
2025: Nepal take both ODI meetings
The rivalry swung again in June 2025.
Nepal beat Netherlands by five wickets on June 4 after chasing 226/5. Six days later, Nepal won again, this time by 16 runs, defending 236/9 against a Netherlands side that finished on 220.
Those back-to-back victories temporarily gave Nepal the momentum in the ODI rivalry.
2026: Netherlands reclaim control
The latest chapter arrived in Utrecht during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series.
On July 23, 2026, Netherlands bowled Nepal out for 157 and reached 158/4 in 44.1 overs. Scott Edwards remained unbeaten on 61, while Alex Roy and Roelof van der Merwe took three wickets apiece. Netherlands won by six wickets.
Six days later, the Dutch completed another victory. Netherlands made 225/9, led by Noah Croes’ 70 and Scott Edwards’ 57, before dismissing Nepal for 168. The Netherlands won by 57 runs.
With those results, the Netherlands moved ahead 5-4 in the ODI head-to-head record.
Netherlands vs Nepal T20I History
The T20I rivalry began with a four-match series in the Netherlands in 2015. Netherlands won the first three games before Nepal claimed the final match.
The opening T20I saw Netherlands make 134/5 and defend the total against Nepal, winning by 18 runs. The second was far more one-sided: Michael Swart scored 76 and Ben Cooper made 66 as Netherlands reached 172/4 before bowling Nepal out for 69. The Netherlands won by 103 runs.
The third match followed a similar pattern. Stephan Myburgh scored an unbeaten 71 as Netherlands posted 149/6, while Ahsan Malik took 4/21 to restrict Nepal to 131/9. Netherlands won by 18 runs.
Nepal finally avoided a 4-0 whitewash in the fourth T20I. Paras Khadka’s half-century helped Nepal chase 140, reaching 141/7 with two balls remaining. Nepal won by three wickets.
That 2015 series established Netherlands’ early advantage, but Nepal gradually became much more competitive.
The Modern Rivalry: 2021 to 2025
The two teams met several times in T20 cricket during triangular and multi-team competitions.
In April 2021, Nepal won two of three T20Is against Netherlands, including a huge 142-run victory after scoring 238/3. Netherlands won the other game by three wickets.
The rivalry then produced another important series in February and March 2024. Netherlands won the first meeting by two runs after scoring 184/4. Nepal responded by winning by six wickets, before Netherlands took the final by four wickets with 189/6 against Nepal’s 184/8.
The 2024 T20 World Cup added another major chapter. Netherlands defeated Nepal by six wickets in Dallas after restricting them to 106. Netherlands reached 109/4 in 18.4 overs.
2025: The Triple Super Over That Made History
If one match deserves a special place in the Netherlands vs Nepal cricket timeline, it is their June 2025 T20I in Glasgow.
Both teams scored 152 in their 20 overs, forcing a Super Over. Remarkably, the first Super Over also ended level, with both teams scoring 19.
A second Super Over still failed to separate them. The contest finally went into a third Super Over, the first triple Super Over in men’s international cricket. Netherlands eventually won the extraordinary contest.
It was more than an unusual scorecard. The match demonstrated just how closely matched these teams could be when both batting groups and bowling attacks were operating under pressure.
Later in the same tri-series, Nepal got their own response, chasing 175 against Netherlands and winning by six wickets on June 19, 2025.
Key Matches That Define the Rivalry
Several games stand above the rest:
- 2016, WCL Championship: Netherlands won by seven wickets in the first ODI meeting.
- 2018, Amstelveen: Nepal won an ODI by one run after chasing 216.
- 2021, T20I: Nepal scored 238/3 and defeated Netherlands by 142 runs.
- 2024, T20 World Cup: Netherlands beat Nepal by six wickets.
- 2025, Glasgow: Netherlands won a historic match after three Super Overs.
- 2025, ODI: Nepal won consecutive ODIs by five wickets and 16 runs.
- 2026, Utrecht: Netherlands won consecutive ODIs by six wickets and 57 runs.
These results explain why the fixture has become such an interesting part of Associate cricket. Momentum rarely stays with one side for long.
What Does the Head-to-Head Record Tell Us?
The Netherlands currently have the overall statistical advantage, with 12 wins to Nepal’s nine across 22 official ODI and T20I meetings, plus one T20I no-result.
But the numbers need context. The teams have often played in qualification tournaments, where conditions, squad selection and qualification pressure can dramatically affect results.
Nepal’s strongest period came with their consecutive ODI victories in 2025, while Netherlands answered immediately in 2026 by winning both sides’ next ODI meetings. That back-and-forth quality is exactly what makes this rivalry worth following.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times have Netherlands and Nepal played each other?
As of August 2026, Netherlands and Nepal have played 22 official men’s ODI and T20I matches: nine ODIs and 13 T20Is. Netherlands have won 12, Nepal nine, with one T20I ending without a result.
Who has the better Netherlands vs Nepal ODI record?
Netherlands lead the ODI head-to-head 5-4 after nine matches. Their latest two meetings, both in July 2026, were won by Netherlands in Utrecht.
Who has won more Netherlands vs Nepal T20Is?
Netherlands have the edge in T20Is, winning seven of 13 matches. Nepal have won five, while one match ended without a result.
What was the famous triple Super Over between Netherlands and Nepal?
The historic match took place in Glasgow on June 16, 2025. Both sides scored 152 in 20 overs, then remained level through two Super Overs before Netherlands won the first-ever triple Super Over in international cricket.
Conclusion
The Netherlands vs Nepal cricket timeline is a story of changing momentum rather than one-sided dominance. Netherlands currently lead both the ODI and T20I records, but Nepal have produced some of the rivalry’s biggest moments, including a one-run ODI win and a remarkable 2025 T20I comeback period. With both teams fighting for greater recognition and World Cup opportunities, future meetings should remain highly competitive.
