Canada continued to keep a stranglehold at the top of points table in ICC WCL Division 2 in Namibia as underdogs Nepal gave a rude shock to UAE’s chances by gunning them down in low-scoring matches on Day 3 of the event.
Host’s Namibia also opened their account in the points table after a nerve-wrecking win over Oman. All matches were threatened and stopped at some points of the game due to drizzle/rains but mostly throughout the day, the weather held up for majority of the matches going the full distance of 50 overs.
Nepali bowlers comprising of Sompal Kami (4/30), Sandeep Lamichhane (3/30) & Paras Khadka (2/20) tore through UAE batting line up to dismiss them for only 114 in a revised 34-overs match which started late due to rains. Khadka then played a match saving innings of 51 runs as Nepal huffed and puffed to 115/6 in the 29th over to win the match by 4 wickets.
Nepal have done themselves a huge favour by managing to win against pre-tournament favourites, UAE and Namibia and with matches remaining against table-toppers Canada and bottom placed Kenya, victory in both the matches should see them qualify for ICC World Cup Qualifiers comfortably.
Ruvindu Gunasekara played a masterclass innings of 83 runs and almost managed to last full quota of overs, guided Canada to 186 before getting all out. The bowlers, however, made light work of their below pat score as they wrecked through Kenya to dismiss them for only 127 in reply. A relatively easy win by 59 runs and stay firm at the top of the points table.
The real dramatic match-up happened between Namibia and Oman as both sides fought till the end to secure crucial 2 points. Namibia prevailed after restricting Oman to 165 and then nervously chasing it down reaching 166/8 to scrape through by 2 wickets.
A Gerhard Erasmus special of 63 n.o guided Namibia till the finish line but OT before he managed to pull them from 65/7, combining in a 92 runs partnership with JJ Smit (32 off 98). Bilal Khan’s 5/33 went in vain as Oman gave their almighty best till the end but could not close out the match when they had Namibia on the mat and staring at a big defeat.
The tournament has seen many ups and downs already and Round 4 matches will be no less than spectacles to watch. Namibia and Kenya match still has to be replayed and both the teams will be desperate for the crucial 2 points after Kenya survived a crushing defeat against the host’s in the previous day encounter, which got washed out by the rains.
