Sports
Women’s Twenty20 Smash: Nepal ease to six-wicket victory
Nepal entered the semi-finals of the Thailand Women’s Twenty20 Smash with the third consecutive win at the Asian Institute of Technology grounds in Klong Luang, Thailand, on Monday.Sports Bureau
Nepal entered the semi-finals of the Thailand Women’s Twenty20 Smash with the third consecutive win at the Asian Institute of Technology grounds in Klong Luang, Thailand, on Monday.
Nepal eased to a six-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and made sure they finish inside the top two in the table irrespective of their final league game against winless Thailand ‘A’. Nepal have six points from three matches in five-team Group ‘A’. With their closest competitors UAE (four points) and Malaysia (two points) left to play on Tuesday, that equation has made Nepal’s progression easier.
Nepal started the tournament with a 10-wicket humbling of China before defeating Malaysia by six wickets on Sunday. They next play Thailand ‘A’ on Wednesday.
The UAE had got the better of Nepal by five runs when the two teams locked horns in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifying Series Asia Region in Bangkok in November, 2017. Nepal then had failed to chase 80 runs against the emerging women’s team of the region and on Monday they looked like repeating the history making a challenging 105-6.
But openers Kajol Shrestha and Sita Rana Magar led a solid reply with a half century stand as Nepal reached the target in 19 overs for the loss of four wickets. Shrestha and Rana Magar added 61 runs for the first wicket to build the foundation for victory. Player-of-the-match Rana Magar top-scored with a 35-ball 37.
Nepal lost Rana Magar and Dolly Bhatta (seven) in a space of nine runs but Shrestha, Indu Barma (13), skipper Rubin Chhetri (10 not out) and Nary Thapa (six not out) ensured the team’s first victory over the UAE. Shrestha scored 25 off 42 in a boundary-less knock. Humaira Tasneem, Esha Oza and Chamani Senevirathne took a wicket each for the UAE.
Earlier, opener Oza did the bulk of scoring in her 35-run opening wicket partnership with Chaya Mughal. Oza’s 25-ball 28 included two fours and a six. Mughal scored 31 off 43 balls and Senevirathne remained unbeaten on 23. Rana Magar, Sonu Khadka and Karuna Bhandari took a wicket each for Nepal.
Summary
Nepal 106-4 in 19 overs (SR Magar 37, K Shrestha 25, I Barma 13; E Oza 1-13, C Senevirathne 1-12) beat UAE 105-6 in 20 overs (C Mughal 31, E Oza 28, C Senevirathne 23 not out; SR Magar 1-18, S KHadka 1-16, K Bhandari 1-11)
by six wickets; Player-of-the-match: SR Magar