Nepal lost first of the two matches to Kenya by five wickets in the ICC  World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) at the Tribhuvan University  Ground on Saturday.

In a low-scoring match marred by repeated rain delays, Nepal scored 112-8  in 36 overs. But the visiting team got a revised target of 94 runs in 26  overs, which they achieved for the loss of five wickets in 24.1 overs. The  two teams will meet again on Monday in their fifth round second match.  The result did not make any impact in the overall standings as Kenya  remain on fifth with 10 points, and hosts Nepal on sixth with six  points.

The game started about 2 1/2 hours late due to wet outfield conditions  resulting into a 36-over contest. Gyanendra Malla took the captain’s  armband after a late call saw regular skipper Paras Khadka, who is  recuperation from a abdomen surgery, miss out from the playing XI. Khadka underwent surgery in mid-February after being diagnosed with “recurrent appendicitis with intestinal obstruction.” 

Nepal coach Jagat Tamatta said the condition did not favour his side. “Losing a toss was crucial,” said Tamatta. Asked whether the team suffered in the absence of regular skipper Khadka, Tamatta said: “Obviously he is our caption but he can not play forever and others have to fill in his shoes in his absence.”

Malla, who has been in a sublime form of late during Nepal tour of Noida  where he hit a century in one game and 90s in another, top scored with 27 as Nepali batsmen found it extremely hard to score runs on the wicket  after losing the toss and asked to bat first. His 35-ball knock was  studded with five hits to the fence.

Malla’s opening partner Sunil Dhamala, who was making his senior team debut, could only  score three while another debutant Dipendra Singh Airee made 19  off 56 balls. Shakti Gauchan, batting down at No 9 was the next best  contributor with 18.

Gauchan and Sompal Kami (15) produced  the best partnership of 30 runs for Nepal when rain forced the players off  the field two overs earlier than the scheduled 38-over match. Shem Ngoche claimed 3-18 and Nelson Odhiambo  took 2-17 for Kenya.

Nepal appeared to be right on track to defend the low total when spinners  Sagar Pun and Basanta Regmi accounted for the three top order Kenyan  batsmen to reduce them to 21-3 by the seventh over. Regmi first gave Nepal  the breakthrough by having Alex Obanda (1) caught by Pun in the second over  before Pun himself took two wickets in two balls in the seventh over.

However, Collins Obuya (24) and more tellingly skipper Rakep Patel (34)  slowly but surely took the game away from the home team.

Teenage leg-spinner gave the capacity crowds something to cheer with two  wickets late on but the damage was already done. Kenya were cruising along nicely when another heavy shower forced the  players off thei field with Kenya at 80-5 in 22nd over with the tourists five runs ahead under Lewis/Duckworth method.

The game however resumed half an hour later with Kenya getting the final revised target of 94 runs. Kenya skipper Patel finished the game with a six off Kami. Pun finished with 2-8 and Lamichhane took 2-21 for Nepal.

Malla said the rain played a part in the overall outcome. “If it had been a 50-over game, probably the complexion of the game would have been different,” said Malla adding that batting also let them down. “We need to step up our batting in the next game.”

Kenya coach Thomas Odoyo was happy that his players executed their plans to perfection. “In the morning, our boys bowled in the right areas and kept taking wickets. In the evening, it was difficult to bat on but our players are professionals and dealt it with calmness,” said the Kenya coach Odoyo.

Points table

Teams    M    W    L    NR    Pts    NRR

Netherlands    1    7    1    2    16    +1.270

PNG    8    6    2    0    12    +0.037

Hong Kong    10    5    4    1    11    +0.996

Scotland    8    4    1    3    11    +0.245

Kenya    9    5    4    0    10    +0.051

Nepal    9    3    6    0    6    -0.501

Namibia    8    1    7    0    2    -0.507

UAE    8    1    7    0    2    -1.319

Summary

Kenya 98-5 in 24.1 overs (R Patel 34*, C Obuya 24; S Pun 2-8, S Lamichhane 2-21) beat Nepal 112-8 in 36 overs (G Malla 27, D Airee 19; S Ngoche 3-18, N Odhiambo 2-17) by five wickets under D/L method