Nepal began their Women’s Day Cup campaign with a disappointing loss to Namibia on Saturday. In another match of the day, hosts Uganda secured a victory against Hong Kong.
Tough Start for Nepal
Winning the toss and opting to bat first at Entebbe Cricket Oval, Nepal struggled to build a strong total, managing only 92 runs. It was the first-ever meeting between Nepal and Namibia in women’s cricket.
Despite a promising start, Nepal’s batters found it tough against Namibia’s disciplined bowling attack. Samjhana Khadka scored 18 off 11 balls, while teenager Puja Mahato contributed 13 off 20. Kabita Joshi (16 off 31) and Ishwari Bist (17* off 14) were the only other players to reach double figures. Extras played a significant role, adding 15 runs to the total.
Namibia’s Bowling Dominance
Wilka Mwatile and Mekelanye Mwatile were the biggest threats for Nepal. The duo delivered impressive spells, each taking three wickets. Wilka conceded only 17 runs in four overs, while Mekelanye was even more economical, giving away just 12 runs.
Rain Alters the Chase
Defending a low total was always going to be tough, and rain made things even harder for Nepal. Namibia was at 39/1 after eight overs when rain interrupted the match. Following the break, the target was revised to 71 runs in 15 overs under the DRS rule.
Namibia Clinches Victory
Namibia successfully chased down the target with six wickets in hand, reaching the total with just two balls to spare. Mekelanye Mwatile not only shone with the ball but also top-scored with 26 off 35 balls. Jurriene Diergaardt played a crucial role at the end, staying unbeaten on 13 off 7 balls to seal the win.
For Nepal, Mahato, Joshi, captain Indu Barma, and Ishwori Bist claimed one wicket each, but it wasn’t enough to stop Namibia from securing the victory.
Nepal’s Road Ahead
Before the tournament, skipper Barma and coach Manoj Katwal had expressed their hopes of winning the series. Despite this early setback, Nepal still has five matches left to turn things around in the double round-robin tournament.
- March 9: Nepal vs. Uganda
- March 10: Nepal vs. Hong Kong
- March 12: Nepal vs. Namibia (start of second round)
With crucial games ahead, Nepal will need to regroup quickly and aim for a strong comeback in their upcoming matches.
