KATHMANDU, Feb 21: Namibia have beaten Nepal by two wickets in the third match of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2.

Namibia won the toss and invited Nepal to bat first. Nepal started the game well thanks to openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh. The good start, however, did not last long as Bernard Scholtz trapped Bhurtel leg before. Two balls later in-form batter Anil Kumar Sah was also on his way back playing a loose shot. Wickets continued to tumble in the first hour at the TU Cricket Ground as Dev Khanal was the next to go without troubling the score.

A 57-run stand between Sheikh and Kushal Malla looked to settle the innings but as Scholtz sent back Sheikh for 58, Nepal’s innings took another halt. Wickets continued with Rohit Paudel out for a duck followed by Malla for 36 as Nepal were all out for 168.

Scholtz and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton were superb with the ball picking up four wickets each. Scholtz in particular proved too good for the Nepali batters.

In reply, Namibia started the chase nervously losing openers Nikolaas Davin and Jean-Pierre Kotze in the first five overs. Michael van Lingen and captain Gerhard Erasmus then settled the innings but Nepal kept picking timely wickets to be in the game.

JJ Smit, however, held his nerves scoring 34 of 66 balls to take Namibia home as the trend of the team winning the toss, winning the game continued at the TU Cricket Ground.

Nepal will now play the Netherlands on February 24.

 
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