Nepal’s women’s cricket team suffered a six-wicket loss to Namibia in the Women’s T20I series at the Entebbe Cricket Oval, Uganda. After rain caused a reduction to 15 overs, Namibia reached the adjusted target of 71 runs, led by Mekelaye Mwatile’s 26 runs. Nepal, batting first, managed only 92 runs before losses, with Samjhana Khadka scoring 18 runs. The team will face Uganda next, followed by matches against Hong Kong.
On March 8, 2023, the Nepali women’s cricket team experienced a setback as they lost to Namibia by six wickets during the four-nation Women’s T20I series held at Entebbe Cricket Oval in Uganda. The match marked a challenging day for Nepal, as a rain delay forced a reduction in overs through the DLS method, limiting play to just 15 overs.
Initially, Nepal set a target of 93 runs, which was adjusted to 71 runs for Namibia. The Namibian team successfully reached this revised target in 14.5 overs, losing only four wickets. Mekelaye Mwatile led Namibia’s scoring with 26 runs off 35 balls, while Jurriene Diergaardt contributed 13 runs.
Other Namibian players, including Edelle van Zyl, Sune Wittmann, Yasmeen Khan, and Wilka Mwatile, scored modest runs, adding to their total. From Nepal’s side, captain Indu Verma, Kabita Joshi, Pooja Mahato, and Ishwori Bista each claimed a wicket in the bowling department.
Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal managed to compile a total of 92 runs, losing all ten wickets in 20 overs. Samjhana Khadka was the top scorer for Nepal, with 18 runs off 11 balls, while Ishwari Bista followed with 17 runs. Kabita Joshi and Pooja Mahato contributed 16 and 13 runs, respectively. Furthermore, Nepal was awarded 15 additional runs in the match.
Looking ahead, Nepal is scheduled to play its second match against Uganda on Sunday and will also face Hong Kong on March 10, Namibia again on March 12, followed by Uganda once more on March 13, and concluding against Hong Kong on March 14.
The recent loss against Namibia in the Women’s T20I series highlights the challenges faced by the Nepali women’s cricket team, particularly due to rain interruptions and reduced overs. With upcoming matches against Uganda and Hong Kong, the team will aim to improve their performance and build on their experiences. Key players like Samjhana Khadka and the bowlers will be crucial in future encounters.
Original Source: risingnepaldaily.com
