In the opening match of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, Nepal Women clinched a comprehensive victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Women by 6 wickets, with 23 balls to spare, in Dambulla. This win set a promising tone for Nepal as they embark on their tournament journey.
The UAE Women, having won the toss and opted to bat first, posted a total of 115/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings began with a shaky start as captain Esha Oza was run out after scoring 10 off 9 balls. Contributions from Kavisha Egodage (22 off 26 balls) and Khushi Sharma (36 off 39 balls) helped stabilize the innings. However, the UAE batters struggled to accelerate, facing disciplined bowling from the Nepalese attack.
Indu Barma was the standout bowler for Nepal, claiming 3 wickets for 19 runs in her 4-over spell. Sabnam Rai and Kritika Marasini supported her well, and they took wickets each. The UAE’s middle order failed to capitalize on starts, and Nepal’s timely wickets ensured they never got the momentum needed for a bigger total.
Chasing 116, Nepal Women lost Sita Rana Magar early for 7 runs. Samjhana Khadka, however, anchored the innings with a stellar unbeaten 72 off 45 balls, laced with 11 boundaries. Her aggressive yet controlled knock kept Nepal ahead of the required run rate throughout the chase.
Khadka’s innings was the third-highest T20I score by a Nepal Women’s batter and played a crucial role in achieving Nepal’s highest successful chase in the format. Despite losing three more wickets, with Kabita Kunwar (2), Indu Barma (6), and Rubina Chhetry (10) departing at regular intervals, Khadka remained a resolute figure at the crease. She was ably assisted by Puja Mahato, who finished not out on 7, guiding Nepal to a comfortable win.
For UAE, Kavisha Egodage was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for just 12 runs in her 4-over spell, but her efforts were in vain as Nepal cruised to victory in 16.1 overs, scoring 118/4. Samjhana Khadka was deservedly named the Player of the Match for her match-winning knock.
Nepal defeat UAE for the first time in Women’s Asia Cup history
Not only did Nepal defeat UAE for the first time in Women’s Asia Cup history but this match set a new record for the highest match aggregate involving UAE Women and Nepal Women in WT20Is, with a combined total of 233 runs. Khadka’s unbeaten 72 will be remembered as a key highlight in Nepal’s cricketing history, showcasing her potential and talent on an international stage.
With this victory, Nepal Women have gained crucial momentum in Group A, setting a high standard for the matches to follow in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024.
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