Namibia
Nepal
Everything you need to know about the NAM vs NEP rivalry: complete match history, team squads, key stats and expert analysis.
Table of Content
Overview: NAM vs NEP at a Glance
Namibia and Nepal are two of the most exciting Associate nations in world cricket. Both sides have been fighting for a spot in the ODI World Cup through the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 — and every time they meet, the contest is fiercely competitive.
Namibia, nicknamed the Eagles, is a disciplined, pace-heavy outfit led by the experienced Gerhard Erasmus. Nepal — known as the Himalayas of cricket — counters with one of the most potent spin attacks among associate nations, headlined by leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane.
NAM 70% wins | 10% No Result / tied | NEP 20% wins · Based on all matches since 2022
Head-to-Head Record (All Formats)
The table below summarises the complete head-to-head record between Namibia and Nepal across all international formats.
ODI Head-to-Head
| Format | Total Matches | NAM Wins | NEP Wins | No Result | Current Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 🇳🇦 Namibia |
| T20I | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — Tied |
| All Formats | 10+ | 7 | 3 | 1 | 🇳🇦 Namibia |
Last 5 Matches (Form Table)
| Date | Competition | Venue | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jul 2026 | WCL2 (Match 119) | Utrecht | — | Live / Recent |
| 21 Jul 2026 | WCL2 (Match 115) | Utrecht | Namibia | 8 wkts (74 balls rem) |
| Mar 2024 | T20 Tri-Series | Kirtipur | Nepal | 3 runs |
| 18 Feb 2023 | WCL2 | Namibia | Nepal | 3 wkts (15 balls rem) |
| 14 Feb 2023 | WCL2 | Namibia | Nepal | 2 wkts (14 balls rem) |
| 15 Feb 2024 | WCL2 | Kirtipur | Namibia | 4 wkts (101 balls rem) |
Key Stat: Both of Namibia’s biggest wins have come when chasing — they prefer bowling first and have a significantly higher win rate as the team fielding second.
Complete Match History & Results
| # | Date | Format | Competition | Venue | NAM Score | NEP Score | Winner | POTM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 Jul 2022 | ODI | WCL2 | Ayr, Scotland | 220 (47.3) | 180 (46.5) | NAM +40 | J.N. Loftie-Eaton (60) |
| 2 | 16 Jul 2022 | ODI | WCL2 | Ayr, Scotland | 199 (49.2) | 136 (37.5) | NAM +63 | B. Scholtz (5/22) |
| 3 | 14 Feb 2023 | ODI | WCL2 | Namibia | — | — | NEP 2 wkts | — |
| 4 | 18 Feb 2023 | ODI | WCL2 | Namibia | — | — | NEP 3 wkts | — |
| 5 | 01 Mar 2024 | T20I | Tri-Series | Kirtipur | 177 (20) | 180/8 (20) | NEP +3 runs | K. Malla (55*) |
| 6 | 15 Feb 2024 | ODI | WCL2 | Kirtipur | 134/6 (33.1) | 132 (41.1) | NAM 4 wkts | G. Erasmus (5/28) |
| 7 | 21 Jul 2026 | ODI | WCL2 | Utrecht | 159/2 (37.4) | 157 (46.5) | NAM 8 wkts | JJ Smit (6/27) |
| 8 | 27 Jul 2026 | ODI | WCL2 #119 | Utrecht | 211/7 (50) | 208/6 (50) | NAM +3 runs | J. Frylinck 100(149) |
Recent Matches 2026 — Utrecht WCL2
Match 115 — 21 July 2026: Namibia won by 8 wickets
| Team | Score | Overs | Top Batter | Top Bowler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | 157/10 | 46.5 | Rohit Paudel 31 (60) | JJ Smit 6/27 ✨ |
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | 159/2 | 37.4 | Jan Frylinck 77* (89) | Rohit Paudel 1/20 |
“JJ Smit took 6/27 — the most wickets by a Namibia bowler in this head-to-head fixture, and one of the finest associate ODI bowling performances of 2026.”
Match 119 — 27 July 2026: Namibia won by 3 runs (Thriller!)
In one of the most dramatic NAM vs NEP encounters to date, Namibia edged Nepal by just 3 runs in a nail-biting finish at SV Kampong Cricket Ground, Utrecht. Nepal won the toss and elected to field. Namibia posted 211/7 thanks to a magnificent century from Jan Frylinck (100 off 149) — his Player of the Match performance — supported by Louren Steenkamp’s 59 off 87. Nepal’s Karan KC was outstanding with the ball, taking 5/29. Chasing 212, Nepal fought valiantly through Aasif Sheikh (45 off 89) and Rohit Paudel (41 off 50) but fell agonisingly short, finishing on 208/6.
| Team | Score | Overs | Top Batter | Top Bowler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | 211/7 | 50 | Jan Frylinck 100* (149) ✨ | Steenkamp 59 (87) | Karan KC 5/29 (NEP) |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | 208/6 | 50 | Aasif Sheikh 45 (89) | Rohit Paudel 41 (50) | Jack Brassell 3/46 (NAM) |
Match 119 Verdict: Namibia won by just 3 runs — one of the closest finishes in this head-to-head. Jan Frylinck’s maiden ODI century was the difference. Nepal’s Karan KC bowled brilliantly with 5/29 but couldn’t quite get Nepal over the line with the bat.
Team Squads & Key Players to Watch
🇳🇦 Namibia — The Eagles
Under the leadership of Gerhard Erasmus and coached by Pierre de Bruyn (with former South Africa international Albie Morkel as assistant), Namibia has evolved into one of the most consistent associate teams. Their pace bowling attack is their biggest weapon, especially in seam-friendly conditions.
🇳🇵 Nepal — The Himalayas
Led by Rohit Paudel with Dipendra Singh Airee as vice-captain, Nepal’s strength lies in their well-balanced squad. Their spin attack — anchored by the world-class Sandeep Lamichhane — can be devastating on any surface that offers turn.
Bowling Battle: The Key Matchups
The bowling department often decides who wins a NAM vs NEP contest. Here’s how the two attacks compare:
| Category | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 🇳🇵 Nepal | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pace Attack | Smit, Trumpelmann, Frylinck | Sompal Kami, Karan KC | NAM |
| Spin | Bernard Scholtz (SLA) | Lamichhane, Rajbanshi, Airee | NEP |
| All-round Depth | Erasmus, Smit, Frylinck | Airee, Gulshan Jha, Basir Ahamad | Even |
| Powerplay Bowling | Trumpelmann (L-arm swing) | Sompal Kami (swing) | NAM |
| Middle-over control | Bernard Scholtz | Sandeep Lamichhane | NEP |
| Death bowling | JJ Smit, Frylinck | Karan KC, Kami | NAM |
Watch this matchup: Namibia’s left-arm pace duo of Ruben Trumpelmann and Jan Frylinck against Nepal’s top order can decide the contest in the first 10 overs. Nepal’s response is to unleash Sandeep Lamichhane in the middle overs against Namibia’s right-handed batters.
Venues & Pitch Analysis
| Venue | Country | Matches Played | Avg 1st Inn Score | Pitch Character | Who Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tribhuvan University Ground, Kirtipur | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 4+ | ~160–180 | Slow, turning, low bounce | NEP Spinners |
| Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd, Utrecht | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 3 (2026) | ~155–170 | Grassy, seam-friendly | NAM Pacers |
| Cambusdoon New Ground, Ayr | 🏴 Scotland | 2 (Jul 2022) | ~200+ | True surface, seam movement | NAM Pacers |
| United Ground, Windhoek | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 2 (2023) | ~180–210 | Flat, dry, some turn later | Both |
The venue is one of the biggest factors in a NAM vs NEP match. Nepal are notoriously difficult to beat at home in Kirtipur, where the slow and turning surface plays perfectly into the hands of Sandeep Lamichhane. Conversely, Namibia dominate at neutral or away venues with green-top surfaces where their pace attack thrives.
ICC World Cup League 2 Context (2024–2026)
Both Namibia and Nepal are competing in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 — the qualification pathway to the ODI World Cup. The current edition runs from 2024 to 2026 with matches across multiple host nations. The July 2026 matches in Utrecht (Netherlands) represent a critical leg of this competition.
Why it matters: The top teams from the League 2 cycle advance toward the Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Every win here is vital to a team’s ODI status and World Cup ambitions. Nepal winning 4 of their last 5 vs Namibia shows they are serious contenders for a top-2 League 2 finish.
ICC WCL2 2024–2026 Standings Context (Approximate)
| Team | Form | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | Won last ODI | Pace Bowling |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | Won 4 of last 5 vs Namibia | Spin Bowling |
In the broader 2024–2026 League 2, Nepal have shown strong improvement. Their series wins in UAE (Oct–Nov 2025) and strong performances in May 2026 against Scotland and USA show a team peaking at the right time. Namibia, meanwhile, topped the 2025 Namibia Tri-Nation Series and the 2025 Canada series (Jan Frylinck top scorer with 177 runs, Bernard Scholtz 8 wickets).
Match Prediction & Factors to Watch
| Factor | Namibia 🇳🇦 | Nepal 🇳🇵 | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Form (last 5 matches all-round) | Strong | Very Strong | NEP |
| Bowling Depth | Pace: Excellent | Spin: Elite | Even |
| Batting Depth | 7 genuine options | 6 consistent options | NAM |
| Venue (Europe/neutral) | Suits pace | Neutralised | NAM |
| Head-to-Head overall | Leads 7–3 | Won 4 of last 5 | NAM (history) |
| Star Player in form | JJ Smit (6/27 last match) | Dipendra Airee + Lamichhane | Even |
Expert Take by Arjun Mehta: On neutral, pace-friendly European venues, Namibia hold a structural advantage thanks to Trumpelmann, Smit and Frylinck. If Nepal win the toss and bat first to set a target above 220, Sandeep Lamichhane can defend it. The contest will likely be decided in the Powerplay — Nepal need Kushal Bhurtel to fire at the top, while Namibia will rely on Trumpelmann’s left-arm swing to rattle early wickets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Namibia lead overall with 7 wins to Nepal's 3 from 10+ matches since 2022 across all formats. In ODIs specifically, Namibia lead 5–2 with 1 no result.
The most recent encounter was on 27 July 2026 in Utrecht (ICC WCL2 Match 119). Before that, on 21 July 2026, Namibia beat Nepal by 8 wickets in the 115th match of the same series.
Sandeep Lamichhane is Nepal's #1 match-winner with 129+ T20I wickets overall. Against Namibia, Sompal Kami has also been very consistent with his pace and swing in ODIs.
Gerhard Erasmus captains Namibia, with JJ Smit as vice-captain and Pierre de Bruyn as head coach. Erasmus is Namibia's all-time leading run-scorer and a key bowling option.
Yes. Both have qualified for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 (hosted by India & Sri Lanka). Namibia are placed in Group A alongside India, Pakistan, USA and Netherlands. Nepal are in Group C.
JJ Smit took 6/27 in the July 2026 ODI in Utrecht — the best bowling figures in any NAM vs NEP match and his third five-wicket haul for Namibia in ODIs, setting a new national record.
Hi, I'm Arjun Mehta. I write about cricket news, player profiles, match analysis, tournament updates, records, and fantasy cricket tips at OnlineCricketID.online. I enjoy researching the game and sharing reliable, informative content with cricket fans.
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