Nepal sets Namibia a target of 133 runs
Having lost the toss and asked to bat first, Nepal managed to score only 132 runs in 41 overs.
KATHMANDU: At the TU Ground in Kirtipur, Nepal, opting to bat first before the toss, was bundled out for a mere 132 runs in 41 overs against Namibia in the ICC League-2 Tri-Nation Series.
Nepal’s batting lineup struggled against Namibia’s bowling attack.
Nepal suffered an early setback, losing a wicket off the first ball, and after losing four wickets within the powerplay of 10 overs, they could only muster 25 runs. None of the first four batsmen reached double figures.
In the initial ten overs, Namibia’s fast bowlers Ruben Trumpelmann and Jack Brussell applied immense pressure on the Nepali batters with their impressive bowling performances.
Kushal Bhurtel was dismissed on the first ball, caught by JJ Smit at slip off Trumpelmann’s bowling. Anil Shah, who came in after Kushal’s early departure, also fell for 8 runs, adjudged LBW to Trumpelmann in the third over. Anil managed to hit 2 fours off 6 balls.
Aasif Sheikh fell for 4 runs in the fourth over, caught by Jack Brussell off JJ Smit’s delivery. Captain Rohit Paudel’s wicket fell to Brassell in the tenth over, scoring just 1 run from 13 balls.
Following this, Nepal added some runs, but the Namibian bowlers continued to dominate. Kushal Malla, the fifth wicket, held fort for 20 overs but was dismissed for 15 runs. Kushal, who struck 1 four and 1 six in 22 balls, was caught by Gerald Erasmus. Two overs later, Sompal Kami was caught by Erasmus for 2 runs.
Bhim Sarki’s contribution of 44 runs, remaining unbeaten till the sixth wicket, proved crucial for Nepal. Bhim, who faced 86 balls and hit 2 fours and 1 six, was caught LBW by Trumpelmann.
Gulshan Jha couldn’t stay long, scoring 21 runs off 32 balls before being bowled by Erasmus in the 32nd over.
Pawan Sharraf’s dismissal for 12 runs, caught by Erasmus, dashed Nepal’s hopes. Karan KC added 16 runs before being the last wicket to fall.
In bowling, Erasmus of Namibia was the standout performer, taking 5 wickets. He conceded only 28 runs in 8.1 overs. Trumpelmann and Brussell claimed 2 wickets each.
