By a staff reporter
Kathmandu – Nepal defeat Kuwait to edge closer to the final of the ongoing Quadrangular Series in Malaysia. Nepal defeated Kuwait by 34 runs thanks to a stellar all-round performance from Indu Barma.
Kuwait went out to bat with a target of mere 90 runs given by Nepal. But Kuwait could only manage to score 55 runs in full 20 overs at the expense of eight wickets. Zeefa Jilani was the top scorer for the Kuwaiti side with 11 runs in 19 deliveries. Khadija Khalil scored 10 runs in 22 deliveries. No remaining batter could conjure up double figures for Kuwait.
Indu Barma took three wickets for Nepal in her spell of four overs, giving away just ten runs. Debutant Khusi Dangol took two wickets in three overs, of which two were maiden. Ishwori Bista, Kabita Kunwar and Sita Rana Magar took one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Nepal, who were put into bat after losing the toss at the Bayuemas Oval, scored 89 runs giving away eight wickets in 20 overs. Indu Barma scored 19 runs in 23 deliveries in an inning that had two fours. Kajal Shrestha scored 19 runs off 18 deliveries with one four. Nepal could only manage three boundaries in the entire innings.
Opener Puja Mahato went back to the pavilion with a duck, Samjhana Khadka scored one run, Sita Rana Magar scored seven off 12, skipper Rubina Chhetri scored five, Bindu Rawal scored 20 off 45, Kabita Joshi scored two while Kabita Kunwar was out on zero runs.
Mariamma Haider took four wickets for Kuwait giving away just eight runs in four overs. But Kuwait had to concede the match due to a poor batting performance. Maryam Omar took two wickets for ten runs in three overs. Priyada Murali and Khadija Khalil took one wicket each.
Nepal had defeated Hong Kong in the first match of the series by six wickets. Nepal will round off the round-robin stage by taking on the hosts Malaysia on Friday, August 25.
The top two sides in the league stage will contest the final on Saturday, August 26. The third and fourth-placed teams will contest in the third-place playoff on the same day.
Nepal are also scheduled to take on Thailand in a practice match ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers that will be held from August 31 to September 9 in Malaysia. Nepal have been grouped alongside the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Bhutan and Bahrain in Group A. China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Myanmar and Thailand make up Group B. The top two teams in each group will contest the semifinals.
The two finalists will qualify for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Nepal will take on Malaysia on August 31, Bahrain on September 1, Bhutan on September 3, Qatar on September 4 and the UAE on September 6.
