Nepal lost to Namibia in their first match of the Women’s Day Cup, scoring only 92 runs. Namibia chased down a revised target of 71 runs in 15 overs with six wickets remaining. Key players for Nepal included Khadka and Bist, but the bowling effort could not secure a win. Despite the loss, Nepal remains hopeful for the remainder of the series with several games left.
Nepal commenced their campaign in the Women’s Day Cup with an unfortunate defeat against Namibia on Saturday. In a concurrent match, hosts Uganda triumphed over Hong Kong. Despite winning the toss and opting to bat, Nepal struggled, amassing a mere 92 runs in their innings, marking their inaugural encounter with Namibia in women’s cricket.
The Nepalese batting lineup struggled, with only a few players reaching double figures. Opener Samjhana Khadka contributed 18 runs off 11 balls, while Puja Mahato, Kabita Joshi, and Ishwari Bist managed 13, 16, and an unbeaten 17 runs, respectively. The Namibian bowlers, particularly Wilka Mwatile and Mekelanye Mwatile, proved to be a major challenge, each taking three wickets and maintaining tight economy rates.
Nepal’s total, which included 15 runs in extras, proved challenging to defend. The match took a further twist when rain interrupted Namibia’s innings, adjusting their target to 71 runs from 15 overs. Upon resuming, Namibia successfully reached the target with two balls remaining and six wickets in hand. Mekelanye Mwatile was Namibia’s standout performer, scoring 26 runs before being dismissed, while Jurriene Diergaardt ensured victory by scoring 13 runs off 7 deliveries.
Nepal’s efforts in bowling yielded one wicket each for Mahato, Joshi, skipper Indu Barma, and Bist, but these were not enough to clinch a win. Prior to their trip to Uganda, both Indu Barma and coach Manoj Katwal expressed optimism about winning the series. Despite this initial defeat, Nepal has five more matches to play, including contests against Uganda and Hong Kong on March 9 and 10, before facing Namibia again on March 12.
In summary, Nepal faced a setback in their opening match of the Women’s Day Cup, conceding defeat to Namibia. Despite a lackluster batting performance and challenges from standout Namibian bowlers, the team retains the opportunity to recover in the series with several matches ahead. The focus will be on the remaining games against Uganda and Hong Kong, as they aim to secure victories and regain momentum in the tournament.
Original Source: kathmandupost.com
