Nepal defeats Namibia in top of table clash

Netherlands back on winning trail

Nepal defeated hosts Namibia by three wickets at United, Netherlands down Kenya by five wickets and centurion Nitish Kumar leads Canada to victory over Uganda by 111 runs in an all-important and tense day at the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 2.

At United, Namibia were bowled out for 142, before Nepal scored 146 for seven, Netherlands chased down a 213-run target in 30.5 overs to beat Kenya by five wickets at Wanderers and Canada’s 293 for six was too much for Uganda who were out for 182; the Canadians winning by 111 runs.

At United the top-of-the-table clash between hosts Namibia and Nepal was on show as the Nepalese won by three wickets with 73 balls remaining.

Nepal won the toss and elected to field, which proved to be a good decision as it bowled out Namibia’s top order relatively cheaply. Stephan Baard (9) and Merwe Erasmus (14) both went early, before Raymond Van Schoor scored 28 to try to lead Namibia to a respectable score. The Nepalese bowlers once again took advantage of bowling first as KC Karan took three wickets for 12 runs and Shakti Prasad Gauchan took two wickets for 22 runs. There were some late runs put on by Jean-Pierre Kotze (27), Nicolaas Scholtz (16) and Sarel Burger (15) to leave Namibia on 142 all out in 49.1 overs.

Namibia took two early wickets before Gyanendra Malla (31) and captain Paras Khadka once again was in the runs with 64 not out including six fours and three sixes. There were some late wickets taken with Gerrie Snyman (3-23) and Craig Williams (2-29) still battling for Namibia, but it wasn’t enough as Nepal ran out winners by three wickets.

Elsewhere, the fight for the top two positions continued as Kenya faced Netherlands at Wanderers.

After losing an early wicket, Kenya put on a 75-run second-wicket partnership between Irfan Karim (43) and Narendra Patel (48, three fours, two sixes). Nehemiah Odhiambo had a late surge with the bat scoring 36 runs not out including four fours and one six, the Kenyans finishing on 212 for nine. Ashan Malik was the pick of the Dutch bowlers with figures of 3 wickets for 27 runs.

Netherlands’ top order was clinical in its chase of victory with player of the match Stephan Myburgh scoring 95 runs including 11 fours and three sixes. Ben Cooper (35) and Michael Rippon (20) chased the runs down, before captain Peter Borren (28 not out, including three fours and two sixes) hit the winning runs in style; winning by five wickets.

In the other match of the day, Canada hit a big total at Wanderers Affies with the first century of the tournament coming from Nitish Kumar in Canada’s 111-run win over Uganda.

Player of the match Kumar hit 104 runs from 106 balls including ten fours and one six, to put the Canadians in control achieving 293 runs for six wickets in its 50 overs. Captain Amarbir Hansra (63 not out, including five fours, three sixes) and opener Rizwan Cheema (36) both contributed building the total to 293 for six from its 50 overs.

It was a big total for Uganda to reach and even with Phillemon Mukobe’s 70 including eight fours and one six the total always looked beyond Uganda with wickets falling. Roger Mukasa (24) and Jonathan Sebanja (22) also contributed, but Cecil Pervez (4-23) and Nikhil Dutta (4-52) led the Canadians to victory by 111 runs.

Points table as at Wednesday, 21 January:

Scores in brief:

At Wanderers

Kenya212 for nine, 50 overs (NK Patel 48, IA Karim 43; Ahsan Malik 3-27)

Netherlands 217 for five, 30.5 overs (S Myburgh 95, B Cooper 35; JO Ngoche 4-52)

Netherlands won by 5 wickets

Player of the Match: Stephan Myburgh (Netherlands)

At United

Namibia142 all out, 49.1 overs (R Van Schoor 28, JP Kotze 27; KC Karan 3-12)

Nepal146 for 7, 37.5 overs (P Khadka 64, G Malla 31; G Synman 3-23)

Nepal won by three wickets

**Player of the Match:**Paras Khadka (Nepal)

At Wanderers Affies

Canada293 for six, 50 overs (NR Kumar 104, AS Hansra 63 not out; RG Mukasa 2-57)

Uganda182 all out, 42 overs (PM Selowa 70, RG Mukasa 24; C Pervez 4-23, N Dutta 4-52)

Canada won by 111 runs

**Player of the Match:**Nitish Kumar (Canada)

Thursday is a rest/reserve day.

Friday’s Fixtures

**At Wanderers:**Netherlands v Uganda

**At United:**Namibia v Canada

**At Wanderers Affies:**Nepal v Kenya

All matches are scheduled to start at 0930 local time