Summary
In an ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 match held in the Netherlands, Nepal was defeated by Namibia by 3 runs. Chasing a target of 212 runs set by Namibia, Nepal managed only 208 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Karan KC shone with the ball, taking 5 wickets and becoming the second Nepalese player to reach 100 wickets in One Day Internationals. July 27, Kathmandu.
In the ongoing ODI series of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 in the Netherlands, Nepal suffered its third consecutive loss. In the match played on Monday night, Nepal fell short by 3 runs against Namibia. While chasing a target of 212, Nepal scored 208 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the 50 overs. Asif Sheikh contributed 45 runs off 89 balls, captain Rohit Paudel scored 41, Arif Sheikh made 38, and Kusal Bhurtel added 34 runs. Gulshan Jhā remained unbeaten on 19. Nepal required 40 runs in the final 4 overs. They scored 5 runs in the 47th over, 7 runs in the 48th, 12 runs in the 49th, leaving 17 runs needed off the final over.
The final over was bowled by Namibia’s captain Gerrie Erasmus. A leg bye for 2 runs came off the first ball. Arif took 1 run on the second ball. Gulshan hit a boundary on the third ball, leaving Nepal needing 10 runs off 3 balls. Gulshan then scored 2 runs off two balls, bringing the equation to 6 runs needed off the last ball. Erasmus bowled a wide, leaving 5 runs required off the same final delivery. Gulshan could manage only 1 run, resulting in Namibia’s narrow win. Namibia’s Jack Vare claimed 3 wickets, Ruben Trumpelmann took 2, with an additional wicket falling through a run out. Bernard Scholtz bowled economically, conceding just 14 runs in his 10 overs.
Batting first after losing the toss, Namibia posted 211 runs for 7 wickets in their 50 overs in the Netherlands. Jan Frylinck scored a century, making 100 runs off 149 balls with 3 fours before being run out. Laurens Stynes played a resolute innings of 59 runs off 87 balls, hitting 4 boundaries and one six. Frylinck and Stynes put on a 131-run partnership for the second wicket. Nepal’s medium pacer Karan KC delivered an excellent bowling performance, taking 5 wickets for 29 runs in 10 overs, including 2 maidens. This marked his fourth five-wicket haul in ODIs. Karan KC became only the second Nepalese bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets. Sandeep Lamichhane took one wicket. Having lost all previously played matches in the tournament, Nepal’s chances to qualify for the ODI World Cup Global Qualifier have become more challenging. Nepal will play their final match of this series against the Netherlands on Wednesday.
