Nepal defeats Namibia by 3 runs to keep its final hopes alive

KATHMANDU: Karan KC bowled a superb final over as Nepal defeated Namibia by three runs in the Nepal Tri-Nation T20I series at the TU International Cricket Ground on Friday.

Namibia needed to score 11 runs in the final over to book its spot in the final. However, Karan KC gave two singles and bowled a dot in his first three balls to put pressure on Namibian batters. He bowled a wide and then conceded a single before taking the wicket of Ruben Trumpelmann. Although he conceded four runs on the final ball, Namibia folded for 177 runs, losing seven wickets.

This was Nepal’s smallest margin of victory in terms of runs in T20Is breaking the previous record of six-run victory against Malaysia.

Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal scored 180 runs for the loss of eight wickets helped by Kushal Malla’s half-century. Although opener Aasif Sheikh fell for one run, Nepali batters got the start but failed to convert. Rohit Poudel was out for 10 runs. Gulsan Jha and Aarif Sheikh scored 26 and 31 runs, respectively, while Kushal Malla scored an unbeaten 55 off just 37 balls. Dipendra Singh Airee scored 16 runs.

Ben Shikongo took three wickets for Namibia, while Jack Brassell claimed two and Ruben Trumpelmann, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, and Bernard Scholtz had a wicket each to their names.

Chasing 181 to win, Namibia lost both openers cheaply. However, JP Kotze and Jan Frylinck steadied the Namibian inning before captain JJ Smit scored an aggressive half-century, scoring 50 off just 26 balls. Trumpelmann and Zane Green seemed on track to earn Namibia its second victory in the tri-series. However, Karan KC, who conceded 23 runs in his third over, had the last laugh.

Both Namibia and Nepal have two points each after three matches. Nepal is ahead on the net run rate. The Netherlands has four points from two games.

Nepal takes on the Netherlands in its fourth and final match of the tri-series on Saturday.