Kushal Malla completed a half-century as Nepal posted an 181-run target against Namibia in the Nepal Tri-Nation T20I Series at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Friday.

Put to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal lost Aasif Sheikh at one run in the first over. Skipper Rohit Paudel, who came third to bat, made just 10 runs before he was caught by Johannes Jonathan Smit off a delivery by Jack Brassell in 3.4 overs.

Anil Sah, who was promoted in the batting line-up as an opener in place of Kushal Bhurtel, made 23 runs with three sixes facing 17 balls. He was caught behind the wicket by Zane Green off a delivery by Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton in the last ball of the sixth over.

Gulsan Jha made a quick-fire 26 runs off 16 balls with three sixes and a four and was sent back to the pavilion in 7.2 overs. Aarif Sheikh then added 31 runs.

Kushal Malla held his nerves and played a not-out 55-run knock facing 37 balls with one hit to the fence and four sixes to take Nepal to 180-8 at the end of the stipulated 20 overs.

Nepal’s winless run at home has so far stretched to four straight matches after losing to the Netherlands on Wednesday. They had won just one out of four matches in Kirtipur in the recently concluded Nepal Tri-Series of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2.

Nepal’s 15-match winning streak at home had ended when they lost their inaugural match of the League 2 against Namibia on February 15.