Nepali women's cricket team failed to materialise their dream of securing a place in the global qualifiers of the World T20 after they succumbed to a 48-run defeat against hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the last match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Regional Qualifier on Sunday.
Nepal, who came into the match with a must-win equation to keep afloat their qualification hopes, failed in the batting department. Inviting UAE to bat first, Nepal restricted the home team to a moderate total of 127-5. Chasing the target, Nepal were bowled out for 79 runs with two balls to spare as only two batters managed to touch double digit figures.
The outcome meant Nepal finished third with six points, four points behind winners UAE who wrapped up the campaign with 10 points maintaining their winning streak. They also qualified for the global qualifiers set to take place next year. Hong Kong, who had defeated Nepal in their first game, secured second position with eight points following four wins and a defeat.
UAE's Chamani Seneviratna was the highest scorer, cracking 52 runs off 36. The player-of-the-match clobbered seven fences before being bowled by Kabita Kunwar. Though UAE could not get a flying start losing opener Esha Oza for just four runs, her partner Theertha Satish consolidated the innings with 47 runs.
Satish hit three boundaries in her 46-ball knock and also shared a 58-run stand for the second wicket with Kavisha Egodage before the latter was dismissed scoring 22 runs. Egodage struck one boundary in her 27 ball knock.
Satish and Seneviratne then played a 49-run stand for the third wicket before the opener was bowled by Sita Rana Magar in the last delivery of the 18th over.
Nepali bowler Kunwar claimed two wickets in her four over spell conceding 21 runs. Sabnam Rai, Rana Magar and Sangita Rai pocketed one wicket each.
In the run chase, Nepal's opener Indu Barma and Rana Magar were the only batters to score double digit figures. While Barma collected 20-ball 15, Rana Magar hit 8-ball 13. The other opener Kabita Kunwar was dismissed for four runs and captain Rubina Chhetry for two runs.
Sarita Magar and Kajal Shrestha contributed eight runs apiece while Apsari Begam (4 runs), Kabita Joshi (1 run), Sabnam Rai (2 runs) and Karuna Bhandari (2 runs) were out cheaply. Sangita Rai remained unbeaten for three runs.
Samaira Dharnidharka was the pick of UAE bowling grabbing four wickets. She gave away five runs in her four-over spell. Khushi Sharma and Chamani Seneviratne pocketed two wickets each.
The Qualifiers featured six teams including hosts UAE, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Bhutan and Hong Kong. The event guarantees only the table topper a spot for the global qualifiers.
