Nepal defeats Namibia by 2 wickets

KATHMANDU: Nepal defeated Namibia by two wickets in its first match of the World Cricket League (WCL) 2 tri-series played at the TU International Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Batting first after losing the toss, Namibia was all out scoring 285 runs in the allotted 50 overs. Nepal overcame the target with 14 balls to spare losing two wickets. This is Nepal’s highest ODI chase.

Michael van Lingen scored a magnificent century for Namibia scoring 133 runs from 137 balls which included nine fours and five sixes. Captain Gerhard Erasmus scored 56 off 79 balls, while wicketkeeper Zane Green scored a 19-ball 34 to take Namibia past 280 runs.

Karan KC was the pick of the Nepali bowlers, claiming five Namibian batsmen giving 61 runs. Sandeep Lamichhane took three wickets, while Sompal Kami and Kushal Malla had a wicket each to their name.

Nepal suffered a blow in the chase as opener Aasif Sheikh was bowled for a duck in the penultimate ball of the second over. But opener Kushal Bhurtel scored a magnificent century to lead Nepal’s chase. Bhurtel and Gyanendra Malla added 52 runs for the second wicket. A third-wicket partnership between Bhurtel and Captain Rohit Poudel took Nepal’s score to 186. Malla scored 25 runs from 35 balls.

Allrounder Sandeep Jora and bowler Karan KC added some flourish to Nepal’s chase after Kushal Malla and Dipendra Sigh Airee had fallen cheaply. Kora scored 28 runs from 24 balls, while KC scored a 12-ball 20.

Kushal Bhurtel was adjudged player of the match.

Namibia will take on Scotland in its second match of the tri-series on Wednesday.