Nepalese women lose to Pakistan

Nepal suffered a heavy nine-wicket defeat to Pakistan in their second Group A match of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka on Sunday.

The Pakistanis, chasing 109 runs, reached their target in just 11.5 overs thanks to an opening stand of 105 runs from half-centurian Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali.

Nepal had made a dream start to the tournament by beating the United Arab Emirates by six wickets on Friday to register their first Asia Cup win in three outings, while a surprise win against the Pakistanis had secured them a place in the semi-finals.

Nepal made 108-6 from 20 overs after being invited to bat first.

But the Nepalese bowlers could not really hinder Pakistan, two-time runners-up at the Asian Cup, who raced past the 50-yard line in the powerplay and secured an early victory.

Pakistan were in a must-win situation after losing their opening match to reigning champions India by seven wickets.

Feroza started the innings fluently and never stopped, hitting her maiden half-century in just 30 balls.

Ali started slowly but soon smoothed out her innings with some terrific strikes and remained unbeaten till the end with 46 runs from 34 balls.

Nepal finally found a wicket when Kabita Kunwar caught Feroza in the second ball of the 12th over. But the wicket came too late.

Feroza ended her innings with 57 runs from 35 balls.

The NRR victory saw Pakistan move to second place in Group A. Pakistan next play the UAE on Tuesday.

Earlier, Samjhana Khadka, fresh from her match-winning 45-ball 72 against UAE, opened the innings for the second time and hit Fatima Sana for a four in the fourth ball, but was out in the next ball after Nashra Sandhu dismissed her with a simple catch to midwicket.

Khadka’s opening partners Sita Rana Magar and Kabita Kunwar added 26 for the second wicket and built the innings.

But spinner Saida Iqbal hit back hard in the fifth over, dismissing Kunwar for 13 and bowling captain Indu Barma for a duck in the space of three balls, slowing Nepal’s pace.

Rubina Chhetri finally managed to get a boundary in the ninth over but was bowled out again two deliveries later, leaving Nepal 40-4 down.

Rana Magar then added 25 runs with Puja Mahato for the fifth wicket to put Nepal on 65-4 after 13 overs.

Nepal had lost five wickets early on after Tuba Hassan and Ali combined to dismiss Rana Magar.

But Puja Mahato and Kabita Joshi added 34 runs for the sixth wicket to take Nepal over the 100-run mark.

Mahato made 25 runs from 32 balls, while Joshi was not out for 31 runs from 23 balls.

“We tried our best to play good cricket. Pakistan is a very good team but we couldn’t execute our plans,” Nepal captain Barma said after the loss.

Pakistan captain Nida Dar was full of praise for Feroza and Ali.

“We batted and bowled well and we have to take this win. A perfect combination of Muneeba and Feroza at the top. A lot of positives because they took the momentum with them

“Go ahead,” she said.

Nepal will play their final group match against India on Tuesday.