Kathmandu, January 14
Nepal defeated the United Arab Emirates by six wickets to register their third straight victory in the Thailand Women’s T20 Smash cricket tournament at the Asian Institute of Technology grounds in Bangkok today.
Batting first after winning the toss, the UAE posted 105-6 in their allotted 20 overs before Nepal reached 106-4 with six balls to spare. With the victory, Nepal accumulated six points and earned a place in the semi-finals from Group A, ahead of their match against Thailand.
Chasing a modest 106-run target, Nepali openers Kajal Shrestha and Sita Rana Magar made a solid foundation for the victory with 61-run partnership in 11 overs. Rana Magar was the first to go after scoring 37 off 35 balls that included four boundaries. Dolley Bhatta (seven) was out cheaply, while Shrestha was run out for 25 off 42 balls. Indu Berma, who scored 13 off 20 balls, departed in the 17th over to be 88-4.
Skipper Rubina Chhetri Belbashi and former captain Nary Thapa then took the team home without further loss adding 18 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket. Belbashi struck a four in her unbeaten 10 off seven balls, while Thapa remained not out on six off eight balls. Chamani Roshini Seneviratna, Esha RohitOza and Humaria Tasneem took one wicket each for the UAE.
Earlier, the UAE made a flying start with the bat with openers Oza and Chaya Mughal scoring 35 runs in five overs before Nepali bowlers struck at regular interval to restrict them. Sita Rana Magar made the breakthrough when she had Oza caught by Barma for 25-ball 28 that included two fours and a six.
Nepal reduced the UAE to 52-3 inside 10 overs before Mughal and Seneviratna added 39 runs for the fourth wicket to turn the match into their favour. Mughal scored 31 off 43 balls hitting a four, while Seneviratna remained unbeaten on 23 off 30 balls that included a boundary. Nepal bounced back conceding just 14 runs in the last 21 balls and also claimed two wickets. Sonu Khadka, Sita Rana Magar and Karuna Bhandari took one wicket each for Nepal.
The post Nepal beat UAE, enter semis from Group A appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
Written by Sandeep
This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/nepal-beat-uae-enter-semis-from-group-a/ under the title “Nepal beat UAE, enter semis from Group A”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
