By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu (Hamro Khelkud) – Nepal Women’s Cricket Team are one win away from qualifying for the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2024. Nepal, after advancing to the semifinals of the ongoing ACC Women’s Premier Cup in Malaysia by defeating Kuwait by eight wickets (D/L), are one semifinal win away from Asia’s big spectacle.
The two finalists of the tournament will advance to the Women’s Asia Cup in September 2024. Nepal will take on Malaysia in the semifinal on Friday. The winners of that match will play the final and, eventually, the Asia Cup. Thailand and UAE will contest the other semifinal.
Nepal, in the quarterfinal today in Bangi, Malaysia, chased down a revised target of 50 runs in 6.5 overs, losing just two wickets. Skipper Indu Barma remained 22 off 21 deliveries for Nepal while Kabita Joshi remained not out on four runs off just one ball at the other end. Opener Sita Rana Magar scored 17 off 15 while her opening pair Kabita Kunwar was run out for just one run.
Maryam Omar took one wicket for Hong Kong.
Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, Kuwait were limited to a low total of 73-9 in 20 overs. Sita Rana Magar took three wickets with a hat-trick for Nepal, giving away just 11 runs in four overs. Her hat-trick came in the 13th over when she dismissed Priyada Murali, Maryam Omar and Amna Sharif in three successive deliveries.
Similarly, Rubina Chhetri and Kabita Kunwar also took two wickets each.
Nepal had defeated Hong Kong, Bhutan and Maldives in the group stages to advance to the quarterfinals as the group leaders.
