Nepal-Namibia match washed out

KATHMANDU, July 11

Nepal and Namibia shared points after their Group A match of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers in Belfast, Ireland was washed out by rain on Saturday.

Batting first, Namibia were 61-1 in 7.4 overs when the match was stopped for the second time due to rain. The match got underway about one hour late due to rain after Nepal had invited Namibia to take the first strike.

The match was seven overs old and Namibia had raced to 54-1 before the second bout of rain forced the players off the field. After the delay, the match was reduced to 17-over-a-side and Nepal’s Shakti Gauchan had bowled just four balls when persistent rain stopped the match again.

No further play was possible and the match ended in no result. Both the teams earned one point each.

Earlier, Namibia got off to a flying start with openers Stephen Baard and Gerrie Snyman scoring 36 runs in 4.5 overs before Nepal skipper Paras Khadka removed the latter for 10 off 12 balls.

Baard and Raymod van Schoor added 25 runs for the unbroken second wicket before rain washed the match out. Baard was not out on 39 off 26 balls that included four fours and two sixes, while van Schoor scored an unbeaten 11 off eight balls.

Nepal, who registered a six-wicket victory over the United States of America to start the campaign on winning note on Friday, are at the top of the table with three points. Jersey and co-hosts Ireland have two points each. In Group B, Afghanistan and Kenya have four points each, while Scotland and the Netherlands are next with two points apiece.

In the day’s other matches, Jersey hammered Hong Kong by nine wickets, while the Netherlands defeated co-shots Scotland by 32 runs and Kenya registered a seven-run victory over Oman.

Nepal will now face Ireland on July 13, before taking on Hong Kong two days later. They will then play against Papua New Guinea on July 17 before wrapping the league-stage campaign with a match against Jersey on July 18.