At just 22 years of age, Kabita Kunwar is on the verge of becoming Nepal’s all-time leading wickettaker in WT20Is.

Kunwar has been playing for Nepal women’s national team for about seven years. She debuted against China at the Thailand Women’s T20 Smash, a tournament between 10 teams, on January 12, 2019.

Nepal’s first women cricket team was formed in 2007. But it was not until the tournament in Thailand that Nepal played their first WT20I. It was where all the Nepali stars, including the likes of Indu Barma, Rubina Chhetry and Sita Rana Magar, made their WT20I debut for Nepal.

The right-arm medium pacer, Kunwar, did not take any wickets in her first T20I. But her bowling figures were outstanding: 3-1-4-0.

And after representing Nepal in 68 T20Is while playing against Rwanda on Wednesday, Kunwar levelled her wicket-tally with Magar, the most experienced active player of Nepal.

Magar was in Nepal’s first women’s cricket team in 2007. In 67 matches (61 innings), Magar has 62 wickets in the shortest format.

Now, after two wickets against the hosts at the inaugural ICC Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy in Rwanda, Kunwar also has 62 WT20I wickets.

Kunwar has had 25 matches where she was wicketless. She has picked a wicket each in 24 matches, two each in 15 matches and three each in two matches.

Kunwar now requires only one more wicket to be the sole leading wickettaker for Nepal. After that, every wicket she takes will extend the milestone.

Rwanda had won the toss and elected to bat against Nepal, who were playing their third match of the tournament after a loss against the USA on April 18 and a win over Italy on April 19, on Wednesday.

In the match played at Gahanga Cricket Stadium Oval B in Kigali, Rwanda were bundled out at 88 runs in 19.4 overs.

Rachana Chaudhary claimed three wickets against Rwanda, while Kunwar and Puja Mahato took two each. Riya Sharma and Manisha Upadhayay bagged one each.

Kunwar had picked the wickets of opener Fanny Utagushimaninde (2 off 8) and Rosine Irera (12 off 13).

There was no significant batting display from Rwanda. They reached 88 with the help of 12 wide deliveries and several fielding mistakes from Nepal.

But the target was still low. Nepal were expected to chase it with ease. But they fumbled.

Nepal, powered by opener Samjhana Khadka’s 48 off 42, required 12 runs to win in 39 deliveries after skipper Indu Barma (1 off 3) departed as the third wicket in 13.3 overs.

Rwanda almost turned the tide after that as Nepal’s wickets kept on falling.

From 77/3, Nepal were 86/8 when Chhetry (2 off 13) departed at the end of the 19th over. Rwanda celebrated Chhetry’s wicket with extra joy as the home side believed they could defend the last three runs.

However, Chaudhary (3 off 9) ran and managed the remaining runs to give Nepal the win.

Nepal will now play Vanuatu on April 24, after which they will play the four opponents once again in the double round-robin tournament.