Nepal ease to a six-wicket win over Malaysia in the Thailand Women’s Twenty20 Smash at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok on Sunday.

Electing to bat first, Malaysia were restricted for 61 runs in 19.3 overs thanks to a discipline Nepali bowling attack. Nepal chased down the target for the loss of four wickets in 16.2 overs. It was the second successive win for the Nepali team who hammered China by 10 wickets in the first Group ‘A’  game on Saturday.

The No 3 batswoman Siow Tzin Yee top-scored for Malaysia with 12 off 22 balls, while opener Yusrina Yaakop chipped the with 24-ball 11. None of the other Malaysian batswomen were able to score in double figures. Player-of-the-match Sarita Magar snared four wickets conceding 11 runs in 3.3 overs, while Kabita  Kunwar, Indu Barma and Nary Thapa took one wicket each for Nepal.

Nepal lost a few wickets in their run chase but eventually achieved the target  with ease. Roma Thapa remained unbeaten on 20, her 24-ball knock included just  one hits to the fence. Sita Rana Magar contributed 16 while Mamta Chaudhary  scored nine not out. Jamahidaya Intan and Aina Haamizah Hashim claimed one  wicket each for Malaysia.

Top two teams from each of two pools qualify for the semi-finals. Group ‘B’  consists of hosts Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Bhutan and Myanmar. The  Twenty20 Smash is Nepal’s first international outing after the ICC  Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifying Series Asia Region in Thailand in November last year. Nepal next play the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Asia Institute of  Technology grounds on Monday.

The Twenty20 Smash is part of Nepali team’s preparation for the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup Asia Qualifier, which is scheduled for February 18-27 in Thailand. Only the winner of the round-robin league Asia Qualifier earn ticket to the Global Qualifier of the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup and  the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2020.