Sharad Vesawkar and Binod Bhandari shared a match winning stand as Nepal defeated Namibia by five wickets for their first victory in the ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) at the TU Stadium on Saturday. 

Supported by a vibrant crowd, Nepal gained an upper hand in the match, reducing Namibia to 109-6 before the visitors recovered to post 195-9 in 50 overs in a tough batting pitch. Nepal replied with 197-5 but not before going through a tough test. Skipper Paras Khadka admitted the win was not easy. “It was not easy ride considering the way the pitch was behaving. Sharad held the innings and Binod played a very important role,” said Khadka.

Nepal had a modest start in their chase when the new opening pair of Gyanendra Malla and Naresh Budhayer added 42 runs for the first wicket before both fell in a space of four runs. Malla made 21 off 40 with one boundary and Budhayer hit a six in his 30-ball 16. Vesawkar and Khadka shared 36 runs for the third wicket before the skipper was bowled by Sarel Burger. Khadka made 21 off 32 with two fours and a six. 

Nepal soon lost rookie Raju Rijal (six) and Rajesh Pulami Magar (nine) to find themselves reeling at 113-5. Bhandari stepped in and, after staying for six balls at the crease, smashed Nicholas Scoltz for two sixes and Zhivago Groenewald for one over the rope to ease the pressure. The two batsmen, however, switched to defensive gears before taking the team across the finishing line. Vesawkar, who hit his first boundary after 74 balls, did it in style hitting JJ Smit for a four to complete his half century and the team’s chase.

Vesawkar and Bhandari shared an unbroken 84-run stand from 87 balls. While Vesawkar’s 99-ball 50 included three fours, Bhandari struck three sixes and a four in a 49-ball 40. Burger and Gerrie Snyman picked up two wickets each for Namibia.

Namibia coach Dee Thakur said his spinners were unable to make full use of the turning pitch. “We didn’t have a spinner who could take five wickets and could have turned the game in our favour. It was a turning wicket and Nepal capitalised on it,” said Thakur. 

Nepal bowled 40 overs of spin, conceding just 148 runs. However, it was seamer Sompal Kami who gave an early breakthrough, removing Stephan Baard (18) and Zane Green (12) after the openers collected 25 runs from the first two overs. Leg spin sensation Sandeep Lamichhane took his maiden List A wicket with the dismissal of Pikky Ya France (26). With spinners making life difficult for Namibia, Burger and Smit pushed the team close to 200-run mark. 

Burger top scored with 38 off 77 with four boundaries and Smit smashed two sixes and a four in his 22-ball 26. Basanta Regmi took 3-40 from 10 overs for Nepal and Khadka, who bowled just two overs of medium pace before switching to spin, had the figures of 1-34 from 10 overs with three maiden. 

Namibia skipper Baard appreciated Nepal’s allround display adding his side enjoyed playing against a big crowd for the first time. “Its an amazing feeling to play under such crowd,” he said.