Thapa stars as Nepal beat Hong Kong in Asia Qualifier

Nepal’s Nary Thapa receiving player of the match trophy after the ICC Women’s Qualifier Asia match against Hong Kong in Bangkok on Sunday. Photo: THT

Kathmandu, February 24

Nary Thapa entered into the record books with superb bowling performance as Nepal defeated Hong Kong by four wickets in the ICC Women’s Qualifier Asia at the Asian Institute of Technology grounds in Bangkok today.

Batting first, Hong Kong posted 62-8 in their allotted 20 overs before Nepal reached 63-6 with nine balls to spare. With the victory, Nepal accumulated six points from four matches and are at the fourth position. Unbeaten Thailand are at the top of the seven-team table with eight points, while the United Arab Emirates, who have eight points from five matches, are second.

China are third with six points from five matches, ahead of Nepal on superior net run rate. Malaysia are next with two points, while Hong Kong and Kuwait are yet to open their accounts.

On Sunday, Hong Kong openers Bella Poon and Yasmin Daswani put up 23 runs in seven overs before they lost six wickets in the space of 12 runs to be 35-6, thanks to superb bowling from Nary Thapa. The former national team skipper finished with the figures of 6-8 from four overs claiming the joint second best Twenty20 International bowling figures in the world.

Mas Elysa Yasmin Zulkifli of Malaysia is at the top with the figures of 6-3 from four overs against China claimed in Bangkok earlier this year, while Botsogo Mpedi of Botswana is tied with Thapa at 6-8 set against Lesotho last year. Zon Lin of Myanmar (6-10) and AW Satterthwaite (6-17) of New Zealand are next in the standing. Thapa’s previous best in T20Is was 4-6 against the United Arab Emirates in the same tournament in Bangkok on Friday. Nepal skipper Rubina Chhetry Belbashi is the next best at the 28th position with the figures of 4-2 claimed against Indonesia last year.

After Thapa claimed six wickets to reduce Hong Kong to 35-6 inside 13 overs, Marina Lamplough top scored with 19 off 24 balls hitting a four. Openers Poon (11) and Daswani (16) were the other two batters who scored in double figures. While Thapa dominated the show, Sita Rana Magar claimed 2-7 from four overs.

In reply, Nepal lost openers Kajal Shrestha (four) and Sita Rana Magar (naught) with just six runs on the board, while Indu Barma (four) and skipper Chhetry Belbashi (six) also faltered to be 24-4 inside 10 overs.

Apsari Begam and Sarita Magar added 32 runs for the fifth wicket before Nepal lost two wickets in the space of three runs with the team needing just four runs to win the match. Magar and Nary Thapa (one) completed the formality. Begam top scored with 24 off 35 balls hitting three fours, while Magar remained unbeaten on 16 off 30 balls.

Jasmine Eve Titmuss was the pick of Hong Kong bowlers taking 3-11, while Ka Ying Chan, Yee Shan To and Mariko Hill claimed one wicket each.

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