By a Staff Reporter
Nepal lost to Namibia by 63 runs in the ICC World Cup League-2 tri-series ODI on Saturday. Chasing a winning target of 200 runs for victory, Nepal were all out for 136 runs in 37.5 overs.
Namibian spinner Bernard Scholtz took 5 wickets giving away 22 runs with 2 maidens in 9.5 overs. Jan Frylinck took 2 wickets with 2 maidens in 10 overs for 26 runs.
Namibia, who won the toss, elected to bat first at Cambusdoon New Ground, Ayr were all out for 199 runs in 49.2 overs. Namibian captain Gehard Erasmus earned the highest run for the team (53) off 70 balls with 4 fours and 1 six.
Nepal’s skipper Sandeep Lamichhane took 4 wickets with 2 maidens in 10 overs at the expense of 29 runs. Sompal Kami took 2 wickets expending 33 runs in 10 overs. Likewise, Dipendra Singh Airi took 2 wickets giving away 9 runs in 3.2 overs. Basir Ahmed took 1 wicket giving away 49 runs in 9 overs.
Nepal lost its first ICC World Cup League-2 Scotland tour match against Namibia by 40 runs and defeated a strong side Scotland by 5 wickets in its home soil. Even though Nepal had an unchallenging chance to beat Namibia, it failed to achieve the victory due to horrible batting. Along with the horrible bating, the coach and captain are also equally responsible for the loss. Below are the five reasons why Nepal lost the match against Namibia:
5. Lack of self-confidence and irresponsibility:
Recklessness has been the main problem of Nepal lately due to which Nepal had to face defeat time and again. There was no scoreboard pressure and if players showed some patience, Nepal could have easily scored runs without any duress.
Self-belief is not seen in the players. Players took the shots in a hurry. The worst shot of the match was by Kushal Bhurtel.
After facing the three continuous dot balls in the beginning of the innings, Bhurtel gave away an easy catch at fine leg. Bhurtel’s job was to save wickets and give a good start to the innings. He could have played maidens in plenty of overs as he had enough time. If that wicket did not come, the Namibian bowler would have bowled badly from which Nepal could have taken advantage.
4.Lack of prime third bowler:
Nepal’s playing XI seems to be imbalanced. Sandeep Lamichhane and Sompal Kami are the key bowlers in the team. Kami took two wickets in the beginning whereas Lamichhane took one more wicket to turn the game into 36-6. Captain Erasmus and Nicol shared 68 runs for the fourth wicket. As the third bowler was not good, Namibia got an opportunity to pick up the partnership.
Basir Ahmed, Adil Ansari, Pawan Saraf gifted runs to Namibia. If Karan KC or Kishore Mahato had been fielded to support Kami, the result could have been in favour of Nepal.
In ODIs, fielding only two key bowlers is idiotic task in itself. Basir Ahmed was given the role of the third bowler. He took 1 wicket at the expense of 49 runs in 9 overs. The lower order batsmen of Scotland, David Wiese and JJ Smit took advantage of Ahmed’s balling. Ahmed lacks international experiences.
3. Aire’s run out:
Nepal were at the situation of 132/6 in 34.4 overs before Dipendra Singh Aire was dismissed. Aire was run out for 38 runs in the sequence of taking second run which then proved to be a turning point of Nepal’s defeat. After Aire left the crease, Nepal scored only four runs, dwindling four more wickets. Nepal needed 68 runs off 93 balls before Aire left.
Initially, Pawan Sharaf supported him at the crease. Lmichhane, Kami and Ahmed were yet to bat. Aire kept Namibia under pressure by maintaining the momentum of the match. But at the end Aire himself gave away his wicket himself.
After that, the entire momentum of the game was in favor of Namibia. The celebration done by the Namibian players after Aire’s run out showed how crucial it was for them.
2. Surprising change in the playing XI:
The coach, captain and management team should accept the fact that they are majorly responsible for the loss. There was a surprising change in the playing XI. The decision to rest fast bowler Karan KC and play Pawan Saraf turned out to be awful as it spoiled the balance of the whole team.
All the players who were fielded against Scotland except KC played. It was not important to bench KC. A chance to fast bowler Kishore Mahato could have been given in place of Sharaf.
Mahato had already proved his worth by taking five wickets in the third match against Zimbabwe A played at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Stadium on May 9, 2022. Even though the captain and coach decided to field Sharaf. Sharaf, Lamichhane, Ahmed and Aire were the spinners for the match. Aire was a good option for the team as an off-spinner. But the decision to field Sharaf is questionable. The decision was proved wrong by the result itself.
1. Awful batting
Awful batting has been the main reason for Nepal’s defeat consecutively. Asif scored 34 runs and Dipendra scored 38 runs. No matter how big or small the target is, to win the match, the target must be met.
Even if the 200 runs target could not be met in ODIs, the only obvious reason is nasty batting. All the batters batted terribly. None of the batters could perform well at the crease. Aire, Ansari, sheikh, Kushal gifted their own wickets.
