Kathmandu, Feb. 21: Namibia emerged victorious in a closely contested battle against Nepal, clinching a thrilling two-wicket win in the ICC CWC League 2 fixture held on Wednesday.

In the match held at the Tribhuvan University International Ground in Kathmandu, Namibia won the toss and elected to field first.

Opting to bowl proved fruitful as Namibia restricted Nepal to 168 runs in 37.1 overs, claiming all ten wickets.

Nepal’s batting efforts were led by Aashif Sheikh, who contributed a solid 58 runs, while Kushal Malla and Bhim Sharki added valuable contributions of 36 and 26 runs respectively.

However, Namibia’s bowlers BM Scholtz and N Loftie Eaton stood out, each taking four wickets to restrict Nepal’s scoring opportunities.

In the second innings, chasing the modest target, Namibia displayed resilience as they successfully chased down the required runs, reaching 172 runs in 40 overs while losing eight wickets in the process.

Kushal Bhurtel was the standout performer for Nepal with three crucial wickets, while Dipendra Singh Airee, Rohit Poudel, Lalitraj Banshi, and Kushal Malla each contributed with one wicket.

For Namibia, MG Erasmus played a pivotal role in the chase, contributing a crucial 52 runs, while M Van Lingden and JJ Smith provided vital support with 31 and 34 runs respectively.

With this thrilling victory, Namibia currently leads the scoreboard, followed closely by Nepal and Netherlands.

The match showcased the competitive spirit and skill of both teams, highlighting the excitement and intensity of ICC CWC League 2 competition.