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Netherlands face Nepal at Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd, Utrecht, in the second match of this tri-series, with both sides needing points to stay in touch with the top four places that qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup Qualifier. Nepal head into this game off the back of a surprise loss to Namibia in the series opener, while Netherlands sit third in the table after a mixed run of results. In this preview you will find the match details, form, pitch report and two NED vs NEP fantasy team options, one safe and one for grand leagues.
For Indian viewers, the match starts at 2.30 PM IST, an 11.00 AM start in Utrecht.
NED vs NEP Match Details
Match: Netherlands vs Nepal, 117th Match, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 2023-27
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
Time: 2.30 PM IST | 11.00 AM local, Netherlands
Venue: Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd, Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht
Streaming: FanCode
What’s At Stake
This tri-series between Netherlands, Nepal and Namibia is the twentieth round of the 2024-26 CWC League 2 cycle, with the top four of eight teams qualifying directly for the 2027 World Cup Qualifier. Netherlands sit third in the table with 32 points from 27 matches, just one point ahead of fourth placed Oman, and a strong home leg could help secure their position. Nepal sit fifth with 24 points from 29 matches and need results here to keep their own qualification hopes alive after already dropping points to Namibia in this series.
Nepal: A Costly Upset To Start The Series
Nepal arrived at this tri-series on a four match winning streak, having beaten the USA and Scotland in their previous League 2 outings and won both matches on a tour of Jersey. That form deserted them in the series opener against Namibia, where they were bowled out for just 157 before Namibia chased the target down comfortably. Rohit Paudel’s side will want to put that result behind them quickly, with Kushal Bhurtel and Sandeep Lamichhane still the key players to watch.
Netherlands: Steady, But Inconsistent
Netherlands go into this match on the back of a mixed run of form, having lost their most recent match to Canada despite scores in the mid-200s becoming common for both teams this League 2 cycle. Their win over Scotland earlier in the competition, chasing 370 to win in a real classic, showed the depth of their batting line-up. Scott Edwards continues as captain, with Bas de Leede and Roelof van der Merwe giving the side good all-round balance.
NED vs NEP Head To Head
Nepal lead the head to head 5 wins to 4 across the last ten meetings between the two sides, including a win in their most recent meeting earlier in this League 2 cycle.
NED vs NEP Points Table
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | NRR | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 27 | 14 | 10 | +0.164 | 32 |
| Nepal | 29 | 11 | 16 | -0.011 | 24 |
NED vs NEP Squads
Netherlands: Scott Edwards (c), Max O’Dowd, Noah Croes (wk), Wesley Barresi, Vikramjit Singh, Musa Ahmad, Cedric de Lange, Teja Nidamanuru, Michael Levitt, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Roelof van der Merwe, Bas de Leede, Olivier Elenbaas, Colin Ackermann, Zach Lion Cachet, Sebastiaan Braat, Alex Roy, Shariz Ahmad, Aryan Dutt, Clayton Floyd, Daniel Doram, Vivian Kingma, Kyle Klein, Ryan Klein, Paul van Meekeren, Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klaassen, Logan van Beek
Nepal: Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee (vc), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Ishan Pandey, Aarif Sheikh, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Bhim Sharki, Arjun Kumal, Binod Bhandari
Utrecht Pitch Report: Bowling First Preferred
Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd has hosted 7 matches, with sides bowling first winning 71 percent of the time against 29 percent for teams batting first. The average first innings score of 202 suggests a venue where a good total is still very much within reach for the team chasing.
Venue stats:
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 7 |
| Won batting first | 29% |
| Won bowling first | 71% |
| Average 1st innings score | 202 |
| Average 2nd innings score | 183 |
| Highest total | 380/9 by Scotland vs Netherlands |
| Lowest total | 157 all out by Netherlands vs Ireland |
| Highest chased | 205/5 by Netherlands vs UAE |
| Lowest defended | 195 all out by Netherlands vs Ireland |
Recent matches at the venue:
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| 116th ODI, CWC League 2 2023-27: Nepal vs Namibia | Namibia won |
| 67th ODI, CWC League 2 2023-27: Netherlands vs Scotland | Scotland won |
| 66th ODI, CWC League 2 2023-27: Scotland vs UAE | Scotland won |
Pace has taken 73 percent of wickets at this ground across the last 10 matches against 27 percent for spin, a split that should favour both attacks’ seam options over their spinners.
Utrecht Weather Report For NED vs NEP
Cloudy conditions are expected, with humidity high at around 82 percent and temperature close to 19.4°C. Rain chance is a significant 60 percent, so there is a real possibility of an interrupted match.
NED vs NEP Probable Playing XIs
Netherlands (probable): Max O’Dowd, Noah Croes (wk), Vikramjit Singh, Scott Edwards (c), Sybrand Engelbrecht, Bas de Leede, Roelof van der Merwe, Colin Ackermann, Paul van Meekeren, Fred Klaassen, Logan van Beek
Nepal (probable): Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Ishan Pandey, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi
Key Player Battles
Bas de Leede vs Nepal’s middle order: De Leede’s all-round skills give Netherlands control in the middle overs, and how Nepal’s middle order handles him after their batting collapse against Namibia could be telling.
Sandeep Lamichhane vs Netherlands’ top order: Lamichhane remains Nepal’s biggest wicket-taking threat, and early breakthroughs against Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh would go a long way to settling Nepal after their previous defeat.
Kushal Bhurtel vs Paul van Meekeren: Bhurtel’s form at the top of Nepal’s order against Van Meekeren’s experienced new-ball bowling is a contest that could shape the whole innings.
NED vs NEP Fantasy Team (Small Leagues)
Wicketkeeper: Noah Croes
Batters: Rohit Paudel (C), Kushal Bhurtel (VC), Scott Edwards
All Rounders: Bas de Leede, Dipendra Singh Airee
Bowlers: Sandeep Lamichhane, Paul van Meekeren, Fred Klaassen, Sompal Kami, Karan KC
Paudel is captain looking to steady Nepal after their opening loss, and Bhurtel takes the vice-captaincy as their most in-form batter. De Leede and Airee cover the all-round bases, and Lamichhane and van Meekeren lead the bowling picks as the two most dangerous wicket-takers on either side.
NED vs NEP Fantasy Team (Grand Leagues)
For grand leagues, this second NED vs NEP fantasy team brings in Vikramjit Singh and Ishan Pandey as lower-owned alternatives to the headline names.
Wicketkeeper: Aasif Sheikh — differential
Batters: Kushal Bhurtel (C), Vikramjit Singh (VC) — differential, Ishan Pandey — differential
All Rounders: Roelof van der Merwe, Colin Ackermann
Bowlers: Sandeep Lamichhane, Logan van Beek — differential, Lalit Rajbanshi, Aryan Dutt — differential
Vikramjit Singh and Ishan Pandey both offer batting upside without the ownership Edwards or Paudel are likely to draw. Logan van Beek and Aryan Dutt are the wildcard bowling picks, both capable of a breakout performance on a pitch that has favoured bowling first.
Also Read: NEP vs NAM Fantasy Team, CWC League 2: Preview, Probable XIs, Pitch Report And Prediction
NED vs NEP Match Prediction
Netherlands go into this match in the stronger position in the table and with home conditions on their side, though their own form has been inconsistent through this cycle. Nepal will want to bounce back after a costly loss to Namibia, and their batting depth in Bhurtel, Airee and the Sheikh pairing gives them the tools to do it. This is close enough to be decided by which side’s middle order fires first, with a real chance of the match being shortened given the high rain risk.
FAQs
Q. When is the NED vs NEP match?
A. Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd, Utrecht, starting at 11.00 AM local time, which is 2.30 PM IST.
Q. Where can I watch NED vs NEP live?
A. The match will stream live on FanCode.
Q. Who is Netherlands’ captain?
A. Scott Edwards captains Netherlands.
Q. Who is Nepal’s captain?
A. Rohit Paudel captains Nepal.
Q. What is at stake in this match?
A. Both teams are competing for one of the top four places in the 2024-26 CWC League 2 table, which qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup Qualifier.