Preview: Nepal and Namibia switching to Twenty20 version

Nepal will face Namibia on Tuesday at TU International Cricket Ground in the first match of the Twenty20 Tri-Series. The Netherlands are the other participating team in the series.

The match will be Nepal’s first match in T20 format this year. The last Twenty20 International for the host was against Oman in the final of the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup Asia Regional Qualifier Final on November 5 last year. They lost that thrilling match in the Super Over.

This Twenty20 International match will be the first between these two teams. When they played each other in the 2015 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier group stage match, Namibia did not have Twenty20 International status. The match was abandoned after Namibia scored 61/1 in 7.4 overs at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast, Ireland.

As per the recent trend, it’s tough to bat in the morning at the venue, but it’s expected to have a lesser impact with the match starting at 11:30 AM. The team batting first has won 14 (55%) out of 27 matches held in this venue, with 12 wins batting second and a washout match.

Players to Watch Out For:

Nikolaas Davin will be a key wicket for Nepal, as he has scored 444 runs in the last 11 innings with an average of over 40. He was the top run-getter in Namibia’s famous 3-2 series win over the test-playing nation, Zimbabwe, in Twenty20 International.

Kushal Bhurtel has the highest run in the shorter format at the venue, with 577 runs in 15 innings. As usual, he will try to take down the opposition’s bowler from ball one.

Dipendra Singh Airee will be a key prize for the Namibian side, as the batter has already scored 508 runs in 13 innings at TU International Cricket Ground.

Nepal must be watchful against the left-arm medium pace of Ruben Trumpelmann. Gerhard Erasmus had tasted success against the home side in recent times, with six wickets in two One Day International innings in the recently held ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 series. Erasmus had 16 wickets in 11 innings to his name last year in the shorter version of the game.

The other Left-Arm Pacer, Jan Frylinck, will throw the tough challenge to Nepal. He was a key performer in Namibia’s historical wins against Ireland and Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup in 2021 and 2022, respectively. He picked up three wickets against Ireland in 2021. He was adjudged player of the match against Sri Lanka in 2022 when he took two wickets and scored a 28-ball 44 to script the historical win.

Abinash Bohara is expected to be key for Nepal in the death overs with his yorkers and slow ones. Karan KC, who is the second-highest wicket-taker for Nepal with 79 wickets in 55 innings, will be a crucial part of Nepal’s bowling line-up

Milestones:

Kushal Bhurtel only requires 85 runs to become the second batsman after Dipendra Singh Airee to score 1000 runs in Twenty20 international for Nepal.

Kushal Malla is just three big hits away from becoming the second batsman for Nepal to hit 50 sixes in the format. Previously, Dipendra Singh Airee had crossed the milestone.

Karan KC is just four wickets away from overtaking Sandeep Lamichhane for the most wickets in Twenty20 International at this venue. Sandeep has 31 wickets in 14 innings at TU International Cricket Ground.

Kushal Bhurtel is only 5 hits away from registering 100 fours in the Twenty20 International, with Dipendra already crossing the barrier previously.

If Bernard Martinus Scholtz gets into the starting eleven, he will be the second Namibian player to appear in 50 Twenty20 International for Namibia after skipper Gerhard Erasmus.