Nepal’s newest pace sensation, Nandan Yadav, marked his ODI debut with a performance to remember, playing a pivotal role in Nepal’s triumph over the Netherlands in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter at Forthill.
Donning the ODI cap for the first time, Yadav became Nepal’s 42nd ODI player, and he wasted no time making an impression. Opening the bowling in the second over of the innings, the right-arm pacer bowled with maturity and fire, returning with excellent figures of 9-1-39-3.
“It was a special moment for me. Wearing the Nepal jersey and getting that first wicket – I’ll never forget it,” said a visibly proud Yadav after the match.
Wickets That Shifted the Game
Yadav’s first breakthrough came early, dismissing Dutch opener Max O’Dowd in his second over. His pace and discipline troubled the Dutch top order throughout.
Later in the innings, he returned with fire during the death overs, picking up two vital wickets in the 47th over, including seasoned campaigner Roelof van der Merwe and Kyle Klein, capping off a debut performance that was both clinical and composed.
Over-by-Over Breakdown
- 2nd Over (1-0-7-0) – Started the spell
- 4th Over (2-0-8-1) – Claimed first ODI wicket: Max O’Dowd
- 6th to 17th Over – Maintained tight lines, even bowled a maiden (14th over)
- Final Spell (46th-49th Over) – Came back with the old ball and took two crucial wickets
Bowling Stats
- Overs: 9
- Maidens: 1
- Runs: 39
- Wickets: 3
- Economy: 4.33
- Key Victims: Max O’Dowd, Roelof van der Merwe, Kyle Klein
While his bowling was the highlight, Yadav also contributed 10* runs off 12 balls with the bat, proving his potential as a useful lower-order batter.
With this performance, Nandan Yadav has not only justified his selection but also sent a strong message about his capabilities at the international level. As Nepal continues to build momentum toward World Cup qualification, his emergence adds valuable depth to the pace unit.
