Cricket fans witnessed history in Glasgow on Monday, as the T20I clash between the Netherlands and Nepal became the first-ever men’s professional match to feature three super overs. In a nail-biting thriller, the Netherlands finally emerged victorious over Nepal in a game that will be remembered for its incredible drama and rare occurrences.
Unprecedented Triple Super Over Drama in Glasgow T20I
The Netherlands scored 152/7 while batting first in this tri-series match that also includes Scotland. Though the Dutch seemed poised for an easy win, Nepal’s Nandan Yadav hit two clutch boundaries in the last over to tie the match and push it into a super over — a rare enough event in itself.
Here’s how the super overs unfolded:
First Super Over:
Nepal batted first and smashed 19 runs. Thanks to opener Kushan Bhurtel, who went wild with two sixes and a four off Daniel Doram. But Netherlands opener Max O’Dowd matched Bhurtel’s fireworks with two sixes and a four of his own. This resulted in a tied super over and sending the match into a second super over.
Second Super Over:
Netherlands batted first again, with O’Dowd hitting another six. Captain Scott Edwards joined the action with one of his own to post 18 runs. Nepal wasn’t done yet — captain Rohit Paudel struck a six, and Dipendra Singh Airee smashed a six and a four to tie the game yet again, leading to the third and final super over.
Third Super Over:
This time, Nepal collapsed. Off-spinner Zach Lion-Cachet dismissed both batters without conceding a run, giving the Netherlands a golden opportunity. Michael Levitt made quick work of the target, smashing the first delivery for six and sealing the unforgettable win. Lion-Cachet was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his game-changing over.
Super overs have long added edge-of-the-seat excitement to cricket. The 2019 World Cup final between England and New Zealand is a famous example. Ending in a tie, even after one super over and being decided by boundary count — a rule since changed.
Monday’s match, however, marked a true first in men’s T20 and List-A cricket, as the Netherlands beat Nepal in the sport’s first triple super over.