Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal conceded a two-wicket defeat against Namibia – the second defeat against the African side in as many games – in the ICC World Cricket League (WCL)-2 at the TU International Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Sent to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal was all out for 168 runs in 37.1 overs. In reply, Namibia scored 172 with the loss of eight wickets with 10 overs to spare.
Although Nepali openers made a good start in the game, adding 38 runs for the first wicket, the hosts came under pressure after its lost Anil Sah and Dev Khanal for a duck. Captain Rohit Poudel also fell without scoring. Although Kushal Malla and Bhim Sharki got the start, they also failed to score big. Aasif Sheikh top-scored for Nepal with a 64-ball 58, while Malla scored 36 from 52 balls, which included three sixes and a four, and Sharki contributed with 26 runs from 36 balls. Kushal Bhurtel scored 18 runs off 16 balls, while Karan KC scored a run-a-ball 12. Five Nepali batters failed to reach double digits; three of them were out for a duck.
Bernard Scholtz and Jan Nico Loftie-Eaton took four wickets each for Namibia, while Jack Barssel and Captain Gerhard Erasmus claimed one wicket each.
Although Namibian openers failed cheaply in the chase, its middle order showed strong resilience to disappoint the home crowd. Captain Erasmus hit a beautiful half-century, scoring 52 runs off 56 balls which included eight fours and two sixes. JJ Smit scored an unbeaten 34 runs from 66 balls while Michael van Lingen hit a 34-ball 31. Ruben Trumplemann scored 12.
Kushal Bhurtel took three Namibian wickets, while Dipendra Singh Airee, Rohit Paudel, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Kushal Malla each claimed one wicket.
Nepal lost its first match against Namibia by four wickets, while it won its second match in the WCL 2 against the Netherlands by nine wickets. Namibia, on the other hand, suffered a seven-wicket defeat against the Netherlands in its second match of the league.
Nepal will play its last match of the WCL 2 against the Netherlands on Sunday, while Namibia is scheduled to play its last match against the Netherlands on Friday.
