Nepal lost to Namibia in the opening match of the Women’s Day Cup. With a total of 92 runs, Nepal struggled against Namibia’s bowlers, particularly the Mwatile brothers. Despite this setback, Nepal has five remaining matches to redeem themselves in the double round-robin format of the tournament.
In an unfortunate start to the Women’s Day Cup, Nepal faced a defeat against Namibia in Uganda. The match, held at the Entebbe Cricket Oval, saw Nepal electing to bat first after winning the toss, but they managed to score only 92 runs. This encounter marked the inaugural clash between Nepal and Namibia in women’s cricket.
Key performances from Nepal included opener Samjhana Khadka, who scored 18 runs, alongside teenager Puja Mahato with 13 runs, and Kabita Joshi contributing 16 runs. Batters Ishwari Bist remained not out at 17 runs. The formidable sibling duo of Wilka and Mekelanye Mwatile proved to be pivotal for Namibia, each claiming three wickets while conceding just 17 and 12 runs, respectively.
Challenged to defend a modest score, Nepal’s task became even more daunting when rain disrupted Namibia’s innings at 39/1. Following the implementation of the DRS rule, Namibia’s target was revised to 71 runs in 15 overs. They successfully chased it down with two balls remaining and six wickets in hand. Mekelanye Mwatile, apart from his wicket haul, also emerged as Namibia’s top scorer with 26 runs.
For Nepal, while Mahato, Joshi, skipper Indu Barma, and Bist each took one wicket, their combined efforts fell short of securing the win. Prior to the tournament, Barma and coach Manoj Katwal expressed hope for a series victory, and despite this initial loss, Nepal has five remaining matches in a double round-robin format, beginning with fixtures against Uganda and Hong Kong on March 9 and 10, respectively, before another contest against Namibia on March 12.
Nepal’s initial game in the Women’s Day Cup ended in defeat against Namibia, highlighting areas that need improvement, notably in batting performance. With a modest total of 92, Nepal struggled against formidable Namibian bowlers. However, they remain optimistic, having multiple opportunities to recover in the upcoming matches scheduled within the tournament format.
Original Source: kathmandupost.com
