Hosts Nepal started their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 (2024-2027) campaign with a four-wicket loss against Namibia at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Kathmandu on Thursday.

Invited to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal set a paltry 133-run target following a batting collapse. Tourists Namibia chased down the target in 33.1 overs losing six wickets.

The defeat ended coach Monty Desai’s 13-match winning streak at home in the one-day internationals. This also brings a halt to Nepal’s 15-match home winning run in the ODIs.

Desai—officially appointed on February 6 last year—started his Nepal duty on February 14 with a victory against Namibia during the home tri-series of the last edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (2019-2023). Following his appointment, Nepal won 11 out of their 12 League 2 ODI matches—eight of which were played at home—to pip Namibia to third spot and gain automatic qualification to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

Under Desai, Nepal also kept a perfect record at the ACC Men’s Premier Cup—only matches against Oman and the United Arab Emirates had ODI status—to qualify for Asia Cup.

The Rhinos were also coming off a 3-0 ODI series sweep against Canada and were high on confidence for the first of the 24 tri-series of the League 2, which forms a part of qualification process to the 2027 Cricket World.

But on Thursday, they could not cope with the lethal spin of Gerhard Erasmus, who took 5-28 in his 8.1 over bowling spell.

The Rhinos struggled with the bat from the onset as Ruben Trumpelmann (2-30) removed Kushal Bhurtel for a golden duck and Anil Sah for eight in the first ball of the third over.

Nepal soon found themselves in big trouble at 25-4 in the first powerplay after Jack Brassell got rid of Aasif Sheikh (4) and captain Rohit Paudel (1).

Bhim Sharki (44 runs off 86 balls) and Kushal Malla (15 runs off 22 balls) added 46 runs for the fifth wicket to steady the ship. But Erasmus ended the partnership dismissing Malla in 19.5 overs and caused further damage taking the wickets of Sompal Kami (2) and Sharki.

Gulsah Jha (21), Pawan Sarraf (12) and Karan KC (16) then dragged Nepal to 132 in 41.1 overs.

Namibia made a good start to their chase as openers Michael van Lingen (23) and Nikolaas Davin (15) and Jan Frylinck (34) took them to a commanding 81-2 in 21 overs.

Kami gave Namibia some scare with three quick wickets of captain Erasum (8), Frylinck and Zane Green (2).

But Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton remained calm to add a 30-ball 31 and Johannes Jonathan Smit (17 not out) smashed a six off Malla to complete Namibia’s revenge.

Nepal play the Netherlands on Saturday.

Nepal will play 36 ODIs over the next four years in the eight-team League 2 that also features Canada, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and the United States and League 2 champions Scotland.

Each nation will host three tri-series and play the other six series away from home during the League 2 cycle.

The top four teams from the League 2 will automatically progress to the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

The bottom four teams will compete against the top four teams of the Cricket World Cup Challenge League—the third-tier competition of international 50-over cricket—in the playoff for the four World Cup Qualifier spots.

Teams failing to secure automatic qualification to the World Cup based on the ICC ODI rankings will also join the World Cup Qualifier.