Nepal women’s team defeat Qatar by 109 runs in the third T20 to clinch the series 3-0. Opener Sita Rana Magar’s (left) unbeaten 82 runs is the highest score achieved by a Nepali woman cricketer in a Twenty20 International. Photo courtesy: CAN
Opener Sita Rana Magar scored a record not out 82 as Nepali women's team clean swept the Twenty20 International Series against hosts Qatar 3-0 with a 109-run victory at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on Thursday.
Electing to bat first, Nepal posted a mammoth total of 164-3 bettering their previous highest T20I highest total of 146 runs against the same opponents in the series opener on Tuesday. Rana Magar also set a record of scoring the highest run for the national team in T20I surpassing Indu Barma's 55 runs against the same team on Tuesday.
Chasing the target, Qatar managed to collect only 55 runs losing seven wickets.
After losing opener Kajal Shrestha for seven runs, Rana Magar shared a 67-run stand for the second wicket with Jyoti Pandey who contributed 24 runs. Rana Magar hit seven boundaries in her unbeaten knock of 72 balls. Pandey hit a fence in 20 deliveries. She was caught by Rizpha Nao of Saachi Dhadwal.
Dolly Bhatta contributed 12 runs before being bowled out by captain Aysha. Sarita Magar contributed not out 17 off 11 deliveries that included a fence. Nepal were also gifted 22 extra runs.
Qatar bowlers Angeline Mare Dhadwal and Aysha picked one wicket each.
In the run chase, Qatar's Aleena Khan and captain Aysha were the only players to reach double digit figures. Khan scored 19 off 33 in her patient knock that included three boundaries. She was bowled by Saraswati Kumari Chaudhary.
Captain Aysha hit 13 off 14 before being caught by Chaudhary off Nepal captain Rubina Chhetry.
Apart from Chaudhary and Chhetry, Sabnam Rai grabbed one wicket while four Qatari batters were run out.
The Nepali national team is in Qatar to fine-tune their preparations for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers set to take place from November 22 to 28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They will leave for the UAE on Friday. The Qualifiers feature six teams including hosts UAE, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Bhutan and Nepal. The team finishing on top of the standings after round robin league will qualify for the final phase of qualifiers next year.
Nepal will vie against Hong Kong in their first match on November 22, Bhutan a day later, Kuwait on November 25, and Malaysia on November 26 before wrapping up their campaign against the UAE on November 28.
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