Nepal registered fourth victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup Asia Qualifier but had to sweat hard to beat China by five runs in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday.

Put in to bat first at the Terdthai Cricket Ground, Nepal failed to make the most of the decent start provided by openers Sita Rana Magar and Kajol Shrestha before getting restricted to 77-9 in 20 overs. Kabita Shrestha bowled a decisive 19th over as Nepal restricted China to 72-6.

The win lifts Nepal to third from fourth in the points table on net run-rate after they were tied on eight points with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a round-robin league tournament that sends only the first placed team to the Global Qualifiers for 2020 ICC T20 World Cup and 2021 50-over World Cup, hosts Thailand are on top with 10 points.

Thailand, , who had crushed Nepal by 57 runs, can still make it through even if they lose to the UAE on Wednesday considering their healthy net run-rate. Nepal next play tournament minnows Kuwait, also on Wednesday, who are winless at the bottom the seven-team table.

After surrendering to Thailand in a crucial tie, the tournament has been all about salvaging pride for Nepal in which they almost failed on Monday only to be saved by Kunwar. China needed 21 runs from the last two overs and the pair of Zhang Mei and Caiyun Zhou prepare to launch the attack after a 38-run fourth wicket stand.

Kunwar struck with the wicket of Zhou in her second delivery and bowled tightly to concede just five runs from the 19th over. Rana Magar was hit for 10 runs in the final over that fetched Nepal two wickets as the penultimate over turned crucial. Mei top scored in the game with a 39-ball 33 that included two hits to the fence.

Zhou scored 18 runs from 61 deliveries in a boundary-less innings. Player-of-the-match Rana Magar picked up 3-19 for Nepal who also affected two run outs.

Earlier, Shrestha and Rana Magar began the Nepali innings with a 32-run opening wicket stand before both the openers were dismissed in a space of two runs. Rana Magar was first to go for 11 off 25 and Shrestha scored 18 from 32 balls with one boundary.

After the dismissal of two openers, Bindu Rawal and Indu Barma (eight) notched up 17 runs for the third wicket but Chinese bowlers dominated the game once they got rid of the latter. Nepal managed just 27 runs for the cost of seven wickets in the last 39 deliveries.

Rawal (10) was the only remaining batswoman to make runs in double figures. Wang Men and Han Lili took two wickets each for China.

Summary

Nepal 77-9 in 20 overs (K Shrestha 18, SR Magar 11, B Rawal 10; W Meng 2-13, H Lili 2-14) beat China 72-6 in 20 overs (Z Mei 33, C Zhou 18; SR Magar 3-19, K Kunwar 1-9) by five runs

Player-of-the-match: SR Magar (NEP)