An early blitz by pacer Sompal Kami and late florishing of Binod Bhandari alongside Basant Regmi was not enough for Nepal to beat Namibia in first of two official practice matches of Cricket World Cup 2015 Qualifiers.
Nepal came agonozingly close to victory but Namibia denied 18 runs in last 12 balls to register a 4-run victory in a nail-biting finish at Burwood Park, Christchurch.
Nepal ended innings at 227 for 9 chasing Namibia’s 231 for 9.
Sompal Kami, yet to make his debut for Nepal team, gave a brilliant start grabbing three early wickets to put Namibia down to 30/3.
The damange was repaired by Stephan Baard and Nicholas Scholtz who batted brilliantly for 90-run partnership. It was broken once Baard who made 73 off 67 balls with 9 fours and a couple of sixes was bowled by Basant.
Scholatz went on to score 79 off 110 balls before being caught behind by Mahesh Chhetri off Prithu Baskota.
Contribution of 37 off 55 balls from Christi Viljoen and run-a-ball 11 by Jaen Kotze took Namibia to 231/9 in alloted 50 overs.
Sompal finished with 10-2-36-4 while Basant got a couple of wickets for 44 runs. Jitendra Mukhiya, Sagar Pun and Prithu each grabbed a wicket.
Nepal’s innings was marked by regular fall of wickets that started with Mahesh, in for a trial in place of regular Subash Khakurel. Mahesh was out scoring just a run.
Five other top-order bastmen got the start but fell without much contribution: Anil Mandal (19), Sagar (21), Gyanendra Malla (15), Sarad Vesawkar (20) and Prithu (13). Pradeep Airee didn’t make much impact.
Playing without inspirational captain Paras Khadka, Nepal was left in disarray at 118/7 in 37th over with asking run-rate touching 9 per over.
It was a valiant batting by Binod and Basant that took Nepal very close to victory. Basant made 39 off just 26 balls with 4 sixes and a couple of fours. He hit left-arm orthodox Bernard Scholtz for three sixes in an over.
But he was out in 45th over with Nepal needing 43 runs.
Binod who made 65 off 60 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes also feel a couple of over after leaving last-pair Shakti Gauchan and Sompal to get 23 off last three overs, which they couldn’t.
Shakti remained unbeaten on 10 and Sompal on 9.
Pick of Namibian bolwers was JJ Smit who got 3 early wickets while his new-ball partner Louis Klazinga got two crucial wickets – that of Basant and Binod in late stage of match. Viljoen also grabbed a couple.
Nepal will play Kenya in second pratice match tomorrow.