Nepal’s national cricket squad slumped to their lowest total ever in the World Cricket League on Saturday for the Dutch to secure an easy seven-wicket victory.

Not only did the Nepali squad fail to cross the 100-run mark, it also could not play its allotted 50 overs. Nepal’s bowlers, who showed some promise by taking three wickets, did not have enough runs to defend.

Nepal’s skipper Paras Khadka, around whom the side’s batting order revolves, was out for duck and the side’s Mr Finisher Sharad Vesawkar could do nothing but occupy the crease, and get out without even scoring 20-odd runs. But all that could change in the next match on Monday. Nepal have shown that they are capable of bouncing back from a slump, and history says they have it in them to beat the Dutch on their home ground.

Here we look at five reasons why the Nepali squad could win the match on Monday.

1.

Paras is good at putting failure behind him

If there is any member in the Nepali team who can get big runs an innings after being bowled out cheaply, that’s Paras Khadka. During the second of the four-match T20 series against the Netherlands at Amstelveen, Paras was out for just two runs. He was caught  by Bukhari off left harm spinner This van Schelven. But in the next match he made 36, and then in the fourth match he made a half century.

Similarly, against Namibia at home in April this year Paras was bowled for 21 in the first match, but in the second match he made a century in front of the home crowd.

2.

Sharad has shown patient knock is possible

Nepal’s most experienced batsman Sharad Vesawkar, who comes in at number three, has shown that it is possible to occupy the crease against the Dutch. Sharad looked to play an important anchoring role in the Nepal lineup, but unfortunately got out when he was set at the crease.

3.

Basanta is not easy to read 

During the Netherlands’ innings, Nepal’s ace spinner Basanta Regmi proved difficult to read for the Dutch batsmen. Regmi bowled opener Barresi as he misjudged an overspin and took it straight onto the stumps. Regmi was the lone Nepali bowler to bowl a maiden over in the match.

4.

Nepali pacers have shown promise

There once was a period in Nepali cricket when genuine fast bowlers were rare. But Nepal bow has three quick bowlers, who on their day, could turn the match on its head. While Karan KC and Sompal Kami are the obvious picks, the team might even go for Bikram Sob as a surprise for the hosts.

5.

Lest we forget the Nepali ‘Shane Warne’

Well Sandeep Lamichhane did go for some runs in the 2.5 overs he bowled against the home side on Saturday. But he has the potential to do much more to secure a win for the Nepali squad.

But all said and done, Nepal need to post at least 170-odd runs to have a chance at winning the second match. We might talk of all the potential in the Nepali squad, but that would all go to waste without a respectable total on the board.

Until then Nepali fans can remain optimistic. To be realistic, Monday’s match is for the Dutch to lose. But the good thing with optimism is that it can take you anywhere!