Nepal Loses to Namibia in Women’s Day Cup Series Opener

Nepal lost to Namibia in their first match of the Women’s Day Cup, posting a low score of 92. Namibia successfully chased a revised target of 71 runs in 15 overs after rain interruptions. Nepal’s performance struggled and they still have five matches left in the tournament to improve their standings.

Nepal’s cricket team suffered a defeat in their opening match of the Women’s Day Cup versus Namibia, held in Uganda. After winning the toss and opting to bat first at Entebbe Cricket Oval, Nepal struggled to accumulate a mere 92 runs. This match marked the inaugural encounter between Nepal and Namibia in women’s cricket.

Key performances for Nepal included opener Samjhana Khadka scoring 18 runs off 11 balls, teenager Puja Mahato with 13 runs from 20 balls, and Kabita Joshi contributing 16 runs off 31 deliveries. Furthermore, Ishwari Bist remained not out at 17 runs from 14 balls. The Namibian bowlers, especially Wilka Mwatile and Mekelanye Mwatile, proved to be particularly effective, each claiming three wickets in their four-over spells while conceding only 17 and 12 runs, respectively.

Nepal’s already modest total faced further challenges as rain disrupted Namibia’s innings when they reached 39 runs for one wicket in eight overs. Consequently, the target for Namibia was revised to 71 runs in a reduced 15 overs, which they successfully chased down with six wickets in hand and only two balls remaining. Notably, Mekelanye Mwatile, who also was the leading scorer for Namibia with 26 runs off 35 balls, was dismissed as the second wicket in the ninth over, while Jurriene Diergaardt secured the win by finishing with 13 runs off 7 balls.

Nepal’s bowlers, including Mahato, Joshi, skipper Indu Barma, and Bist, each captured one wicket; however, it was insufficient for a victory. Prior to departing for Uganda, both Barma and coach Manoj Katwal expressed optimism about winning the series. Despite this initial defeat, Nepal retains chances of success with five matches left in the double round-robin tournament format.

Nepal’s upcoming fixtures include matches against Uganda on March 9 and Hong Kong on March 10, followed by a rematch against Namibia on March 12.

In summary, Nepal faced a challenging start in the Women’s Day Cup, losing their opening match to Namibia after a low batting performance. The Namibian team capitalized on this, efficiently chasing a revised target. Despite the loss, Nepal still possesses opportunities to recover in the remaining matches of the tournament. Upcoming games against Uganda and Hong Kong will be crucial for redeeming their standing in the series.

Original Source: kathmandupost.com