By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu (Hamro Khelkud) – An abysmal batting performance from Nepal has left Namibia with a low totla to chase in the ICC World Cricket League Two opener in Kathmandu. Batting first after losing the toss, Nepal have been bundled over for 132 runs in 41.1 overs.

Bhim Sharki was the only batter who got going for Nepal while wickets kept falling at the other end. Coming to bat at number five in the third over, Bhim got out in the 28th over for a well-made 86-ball 44 with two fours and a six in his innings. He was caught leg-before-wicket by Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus.
Nepal’s innings started with opener Kushal Bhurtel going back to the hut in the very first delivery. Kushal edged Ruben Trumpelmann’s delivery outside off to the first slip and went back with a royal duck. Anil Shah was also preyed by Trumpelmann in the first delivery of the third over after striking two boundaries. He was dismissed for eight runs off six deliveries.
Aasif Sheikh followed Anil back to the dugout, being dismissed by debutant Jack Brassell for four runs off 11 deliveries.

Rohit was also dismissed by Brassell on just one run in 13 deliveries. Nepal, 21-4 at this stage, seemed to have a partnership brewing for the fifth wicket but Kushal Malla was trapped by Erasmus for 15 runs in the 20th over.
Sompal Kami was also dismissed by Erasmus for just two runs in the 22nd over. Bhim was the next to head back. Gulshan Jha, who got a decent start, was bowled by the skipper again on 21 runs off 31 deliveries in the 32nd over.
Pawan Sarraf was the next man to be dismissed having made 12 off 22. He was caught brilliantly by Erasmus off Jan Loftie-Eaton’s delivery. Karan KC was the last man to depart for 16 runs off 38. He was dismissed by Erasmus, himself.

Erasmus was the pick of the bowlers with his part-time off-spin, taking five wickets in 8.1 overs. The Pacer duo of Ruben Trumpelmann and Jack Brassell took two wickets each with the former bowling all ten overs and the latter, half of that. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton picked up the one remaining wicket.
Namibia and the Netherlands are currently in Nepal to get things underway in the new cycle of the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two. Nepal will take on the Netherlands in the second match of the tri-series on Saturday.