KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 16

Nepal women's national cricket team defeated Qatar by 119 runs in the first of the three-match bilateral Twenty20 International Series at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha today.

Invited to take the first strike, Nepal amassed a record total of 146-4 in their allotted 20 overs before packing the home side for a paltry 27 runs in 11.5 overs.

Nepal's previous highest total was 126-5 scored against Malaysia in the ICC World Cup Asia Qualifiers in Bangkok in 2019. The two sides will meet again on Wednesday for the second match, while the third and final match is slated for Thursday.

Indu Barma created history by becoming the first Nepali batter to score a half century. Barma scored 55 off 47 balls with the help of five boundaries and she bettered Sita Rana Magar's record of 48 runs scored against Indonesia in 2019.

Nepal lost opener Kajal Shrestha (three) with just eight runs on the board before Rana Magar and Barma added 88 runs for the second wicket in a record partnership.

They beat their own previous best of 70 scored against Indonesia two years ago. The home side struck twice in the 12th over to reduce Nepal to 96-3.

Vice-captain Rana Magar departed for 33-ball 39 that included five boundaries in the fourth ball of the over, while skipper Rubina Chhetri was run out for a duck two balls later.

Barma and Sarita Magar then added 34 runs for the fourth wicket before the player-of-the-match Barma retired hurt. Barma had completed her half century from 45 balls and she decided to retire to give opportunity to other players. Magar scored run-a-ball 21 hitting two fours, while Kabita Kunwar remained unbeaten on eight runs. Angeline Mare and Sabeeja Panayan took one wicket each for Qatar.

In reply, none of the Qatar batters could score in double figures. Khadija Imtiaz and Mare contributed eight runs each, while seven batters failed to open their accounts.

Nepal skipper Chhetri returned with 3-1 in 1.5 overs, while Kabita Kunwar and Sita Rana Magar claimed two wickets each and Karuna Bhandari bagged one.

Nepal coach Jagat Tamatta handed T20I debuts to Kabita Joshi and Sangita Rai.

After the first-ever T20I series in Qatar, the Nepali team will fly for the UAE on November 19 to participate in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers slated for November 22-28.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 17, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.