KATHMANDU, Feb 23: A four-wicket haul from Nary Thapa helped Nepal national women’s cricket team register its second win of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Qualifier defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by seven wickets in Thailand on Friday. 

With a brilliant economy of 1.71, Thapa picked up four wickets limiting the UAE batswomen to a minimal target. 

At the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok, the UAE won the toss, elected to bat first and presented a target of just 41 runs for the loss of all wickets in 17.3 overs. In reply, Nepal chased the target hitting 45 runs for the loss of three wickets within 10.2 overs. 

In a brilliant-bowling performance from Nepal, only one UAE batswoman reached the double figures, but could not even touch the 14-run mark. Chamani Seneviratna hit the highest runs for the UAE with 13 runs off 29 balls with a four. 

All the other batswomen struggled to play their usual game and could only hit few runs to add on to its minimal total. 

Neha Sharma scored six runs facing 29 balls, while Ishani Seneviratne and Kavisha Egodage, facing six and five deliveries respectively, hit four runs each. Shubha Venkataraman and Chaya Mughal scored three runs, while Esha Rohit could only open the batting lineup with two runs. All the other batswomen went for one or ducks. 

Thapa was the standout bowler in the match taking four wickets giving away six runs in 3.3 overs. The other three bowlers for Nepal took two wickets each. 

Sarita Rana Magar, Kabita Kunwar and Sonu Khadka picked up two wickets each for the team. They all had convincing economies as well as Magar bowled four overs conceding seven runs, while Kunwar gave away seven runs in three overs. Khadka had only two overs in her spell and gave away six runs. 

It was a rather easy chase for Nepal, but things got a bit complicated when the score went to 23-2 in 6.5 overs. Nepal still had the upper hand in the chase as Kajol Shrestha going down when the score was 41-3 at the end of the ninth over. Captain Rubina Chhetry played brilliantly in the latter stage of Nepal’s chase hitting the highest runs and finishing the match with a four. 

Captain Chhetry hit the highest 18 runs off 17 overs which included a six and two fours. She is the only batswoman so far to score a six in the match Nepal played. 

Earlier, opener Shrestha hit 15 runs off 25 deliveries with two fours, while the other opener Sarita scored six runs off 16 balls. The debutant Apsari Begam was out for a duck. 

Rohit took the most wickets for the UAE with two wickets in three overs conceding 15 runs, while Egodage took a wicket. 

Thapa was named the player of the match.

In the other matches played on the same day, Thailand defeated Hong Kong by 82 runs, while China saw off Malaysia by eight wickets. 

Thailand, the UAE, China are first, second and third respectively with six points, while Nepal is the fourth with six points from three matches. Thailand has played three matches, while the UAE and China have both played four matches each. 

 
• ICC_Women’s_T20_World_Cup
 
• Asia_Region
 
• Qualifier