Nepal lost their opening match against Namibia in the Women’s Day Cup, managing to score only 92 runs. Namibia successfully chased the revised target of 71 runs with six wickets remaining. Nepal’s coach and captain remain optimistic about their chances in the upcoming matches.
Nepal’s women’s cricket team faced defeat in their opening match of the Women’s Day Cup, losing to Namibia at Entebbe Cricket Oval. Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal managed to score just 92 runs, marking their inaugural encounter with Namibia in women’s cricket. Key contributions came from Samjhana Khadka (18 runs), Puja Mahato (13 runs), Kabita Joshi (16 runs), and Ishwari Bist, who scored an unbeaten 17 runs.
Bowling was a significant challenge for Nepal as Namibian bowlers Wilka Mwatile and Mekelanye Mwatile claimed three wickets each, restricting Nepal’s scoring effectively. With only 15 runs counted from extras, Nepal’s low total proved difficult to defend. Following interruptions from rain, Namibia’s revised target fell to 71 runs off 15 overs, which they surpassed with six wickets in hand. Mekelanye also scored 26 runs for Namibia, cementing her impactful performance.
Despite the loss, Nepal’s players, including Mahato, Joshi, skipper Indu Barma, and Bist, each took one wicket, but it was not sufficient to turn the match around. Coach Manoj Katwal and skipper Barma expressed optimism for the series prior to their departure for Uganda, noting that they could potentially recover in the remaining five matches. Nepal will next compete against Uganda and Hong Kong on March 9 and 10, followed by a second encounter with Namibia on March 12.
In summary, Nepal’s women’s cricket team experienced a setback by losing their first match against Namibia in the Women’s Day Cup. Despite individual contributions and hopes for improvement expressed by the team leadership, they will need to regroup swiftly to enhance their performance in the upcoming matches. With five games still to play, there remains potential for recovery in the series.
Original Source: kathmandupost.com
