Nepal suffered back-to-back defeat against Namibia in Nepal Tri-series of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (2024-2027) after the Rhinos fell to a two-wicket loss at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Wednesday.

It was the Rohit Paudel-led side’s second defeat in the second match of the League 2 which forms a part of the qualification process to the 2027 Cricket World Cup. The top four teams at the end of the League 2 automatically qualify for the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The Nepal Tri-series is the first of the 24 tri-series under the League 2 cycle.

Nepal had succumbed to a surprise four-wicket defeat to Gerhard Erasmus’s men last week, which had ended Nepal’s 15-match winning streak at home in the one-day internationals that stretched back to November 2022.

Nepal had bounced back to demolish tournament favourites Netherlands by nine wickets.

But another batting failure saw Nepal wrapped up for a paltry 168 in 37.1 overs. Nepal had managed only 132 total against Namibia in their first match—their lowest ever total at TU Ground on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Namibia completed the chase in 40 overs, losing eight wickets.

Aasif Sheikh was the only stand-out batter with a half-century score. Sheikh scored 58 runs off 64 balls for his 12th one-day international century. He cracked eight boundaries and one six.

Openers Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel added 38 runs but Nepal batters soon crumbled under the pressure of deadly Namibia spinners Bernard Scholtz (4-31) and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eatons (4-34).

Nepal lost wickets in quick successions after Scholtz trapped Bhurtel leg in front in 6.2 overs and dismissed Anil Sah for a duck two balls later. Dev Khanal departed in the next over after playing six-ball duck.

Sheikh and Kushal Malla put on a 57-run stand for the fourth wicket to build Nepal innings but Scholtz checked the progress getting rid of Sheikh in the 20th over.

Nepal then lost wickets at regular intervals.

Caught by Scholtz off Loftie-Eaton, skipper Paudel walked back without adding a score.

Malla, who provided the second highest score with 36 runs off 52 balls, fell to Erasmus in the 27th over.

Lotie-Eaton then removed Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami in the space of three balls before Scholtz bowled Bhim Sharki, who added 26 runs.

Loftie-Eaton next got Karan KC (12) to sum up Nepal’s resurfacing batting headache.

In the chase, Namibia lost two early wickets when opener Jean-Pierre Kotze (3) and Nikolaas Davin (8) departed cheaply.

But Captain Erasmus scored 52 runs off 56 balls and Michael van Lingen added 31 runs off 34 balls to rebuild the innings.

Johannes Jonathan Smit then played 34 not out to guide Namibia to 172-8.

Bhurtel, who took 4-20 against the Netherlands, was the pick of Nepal bowling again. Bhurtel returned the match figures of 3-28 in his five-over bowling spell.

Aerie, Paudel, Lalit Rajbanshi and Malla pocketed one wicket apiece.

Nepal next play the Netherlands on Sunday in their last match of the Nepal tri-series.