Nepal failed to qualify to the ICC InterContinental Cup as its playoff match against Namibia ended here in a draw today at the Wanderers, Windhoek.
Chasing a victory target of 369 in 40 overs, Nepal were 70/3 in 24 overs before the match ended. Namibia, needing only a draw to qualify to the only first-class cricket for associate countries, declared its second innings at 239/6 made off 62 overs. In first innings, they had scored 272 while Nepal managed just 143.
Chasing almost impossible target, Nepal lost opener Kaniska Chaugai for just 14 runs. He scored 10 of them before being castled by S Burger. Paresh Lohani and Sharad Vesawkar showed a little patient before both fell to AJ Burger. Paresh got 16 while Sharad got 11. At the end of the play, Gyanendra Malla (16) and Shakti Gauchan (9) were at the crease.
Earlier, Binod Das and leg-spinner Raj Kumar Pradhan each took two wickets while Aamir Akhtar and Shakti Gauchan claimed one each but the play was dominated by Namibian batsmen. G Snyman scored 78 not out to add to his first innings’ 60 while L Burger too got the half-century, 58. Mehboob Alam who just bowled two deliveries yesterday, one of them wide, didn’t bowl today.
Namibia now joins Scotland, Ireland and United Arab Emirates for the ICC InterContinental Cup. The other four are Kenya, Netherlands, Canada and Bermuda.