Chhetry’s side beat Hong Kong by 13 runs on DLS method after Nepal’s 102-run chase was hit by downpour at 37-1. Members of Nepal national women’s team celebrate a wicket during a match against Hong Kong in the Women’s Twenty20 Quadrangular Series in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo courtesy: CAN
Nepal beat Hong Kong by 13 runs on DLS method in the final to clinch the title of the Women's T20 Quadrangular Series on Saturday at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hong Kong posted 101-6 after they were invited to bat first. Nepal's run chase was interrupted after 5.3 overs with 37-1 on board, due to a downpour. Further play was not possible and Nepal were declared winners by 13 runs on DLS method.
Nepal had defeated the same opponents by six wickets in the opening match of the series. But they lost against hosts Malaysia by six wickets on Friday.
Despite the defeat against Malaysia, Nepal had progressed into the finals as table toppers by virtue of a higher net run rate. Nepal, Hong Kong and Malaysia were all tied at equal four points. The tournament also featured Kuwait.
Hong Kong were off to a shaky start after they lost openers Natasha Miles (6 runs) and Mariko Hill (0) with eight runs on the board. But captain Kary Chan scored 29 runs off 45 balls, the highest of the innings. The number four batter was clean bowled by Khusi Dangol.
Marina Lamplough also made a remarkable contribution of 19 runs off 20 balls that included a boundary. She was also clean bowled by Dangol.
Shanzeen Shahdad scored an unbeaten 14 runs off 10 balls while Yasmin Daswanti contributed 11 runs off 26.
Dangol was the pick of Nepal's bowling, claiming three wickets in as many overs, giving away only 20 runs. She was declared the player-of-the-match. Kabita Joshi and Asmina Karmacharya picked up a wicket each.
In the run chase, Nepal lost opener Kajal Shrestha for a duck off the third delivery of the innings following wides as the first two deliveries.
But her opening partner Sita Rana Magar and Indu Barma gave stability to the innings without any further damage and Nepal were 37-1 when the rain stopped the play. Barma had contributed a-run-a-ball 19 studded with two hits to the fence while Rana Magar had scored 13 runs from as many deliveries that included a boundary.
The third place playoff match saw hosts Malaysia beat Kuwait by 35 runs. Sent in to bat first, Malaysia posted 112-4 on the back of an unbeaten 44 runs by Ainna Hamizah Hashim. While bowling, Alsya Eleesa grabbed three wickets for the home team as they restricted Kuwait to 77-8.
Nepal were playing in the series to finetune their preparations for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers scheduled to be held in Malaysia from August 31 to September 9.
Nepal is placed in Group 'A' along with Bahrain, Bhutan, Malaysia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The other group comprises China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Myanmar and Thailand.
The top two sides from each group progress into the semi-finals and the finalists will be eligible for the global qualifiers of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup.
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