Nepal has started the triangular one-day series under the ongoing ICC World Cup League-2 in Scotland with a loss. Namibia defeated Nepal by 40 runs to register its first victory against Nepal in List A cricket.

Following the 221-run target set by Namibia, Nepal scored only 180 runs in 46.5 overs.

Aarif Sheikh scored an unbeaten 50 runs for Nepal, hitting two fours from 84 balls. Dev Khanal scored 34, Kushal Bhurtel 27, Karan KC 19 and Asif Sheikh contributed 14 runs.

Nepal lost the first wicket in the eighth over. However, Nepal kept losing wickets at regular intervals. After the wickets of openers Kushal and Aasif, Rohit Poudel did not open his account and Dipendra Singh Airee was dismissed for 4 runs. Rohit was run out. Dev and Aarif shared 45 runs for the fifth wicket which was the highest partnership in the innings. After that, Aarif Sheikh kept his end despite losing wicket at the other side. Even though Aarif completed the fourth ODI half-century of his career, Nepal lost due to lack of batsman to accompany him.

In Namibia's bowling, David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz and Jan Frylinck took 2/2 wickets while Ruben Trumpelmann and Gerhard Erasmus shared a wicket each.

Earlier, Namibia won the toss and elected to bat. They lost all their wickets in 47.3 overs and scored 220 runs.

Nicol Loftie-Eaton who came in at number 6 top-scored with 60 off 69 balls with five fours and a six. Openers Lo-handre Louwrens and Divan la Cock shared 31 runs for the first wicket in 6.3 overs.

Louwrens was dismissed by Karan KC for 18 runs. He struck three fours in 23 balls. In the fourth ball of the 11th over, Sandeep got the better of Divan la Cock dismissing him for 41 off 32 balls with seven fours. Sandeep stumped Zane Green off wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh in the first ball of the 15th over.

In Nepal's bowling, captain Sandeep Lamichhane took the 4 wickets conceeding 54 runs in 10 overs. Sompal Kami took 2 wickets while Basir Ahmed, Karan KC and Dipendra Singh Airee shared a wicket each.

Under the series, Nepal will play its next match against Scotland on Wednesday (July 13).

After the defeat, Nepal has slipped one place to sixth position in the World Cup League-2 table while Namibia has risen to fifth position. Nepal has won 7 out of 17 matches and lost 9 matches while 1 match ended in a draw.