KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 25

Nepal thrashed Kuwait by nine wickets to register their second victory in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup Asia Region Qualifiers at the ICC Academy grounds in Dubai today.

Batting first, Kuwait were bowled out for a paltry 27 runs in 15.3 overs before Nepal raced to 28-1 with 99 balls to spare. With their second win in three matches, Nepal moved to second position with four points, two behind hosts United Arab Emirates.

Hong Kong also have four points from three games, while Malaysia and Bhutan have two each. Kuwait are yet to open their accounts in the six-team competition. After the round robin league, the top side will make it to next year's global qualifiers of the ICC T20 World Cup.

Kuwait's decision to bat first backfired as only opener Priyada Murali was able to score in double figures. They lost the last eight wickets for just nine runs. Murali scored 10 off 20 balls with the help of two boundaries, while Maryam Omar was the next best contributor with seven runs. Six Kuwait batters even failed to open their accounts.

Sangita Rai was the pick of the Nepali bowlers taking 3-2 from 2.4 overs, while she was ably supported by Karuna Bhandari (2-8) and skipper Rubina Chhetry (3-2-1-2). Saraswati Kumari also grabbed a wicket.

In reply, Nepal lost vice-captain Sita Rana Magar (naught) with just one run on the board before skipper Chhetry and Indu Barma took the team home without further loss.

Rana Magar was bowled by Maria Jasvi in the fifth ball of the innings.

Player-of-the-match Chhetry struck a four in her 10- ball 12 not out, while Barma remained unbeaten on 13 off eight balls that included a boundary.

Nepal will take on Malaysia on Friday and wrap up the tournament with a match against hosts UAE on Sunday.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 26, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.