Nepal collapse for eight runs
ByPublished: 08:32 am Jun 05, 2022
KATHMANDU, JUNE 4
Nepali youth team collapsed for eight runs as they face a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of the United Arab Emirates in the ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier match at the UKM-YSD Cricket Oval in Bangi, Malaysia today.
Nepal's decision to bat first after skipper Kritika Marasini won the toss backfired as the batters struggled to stay at the crease, let alone build partnerships.
They were bowled out for a paltry eight runs in 8.1 overs before the UAE reached 9-0 in seven balls.
Only five players were able to open their accounts with Sneha Mahara (three) being the top scorer for Nepal. Maneesha Rana remained unbeaten on two, while Kiran Kumari Kunwar, Ashma Pulami Magar and Anu Kadayat scored one each.
Six batters - Anjali Bishowkarma, Sana Praveen, Shristi Jaisi, skipper Marasini, Ranju Shrestha and Alisha Kumari Yadav - were out for ducks.
UAE used just three bowlers with Mahika Gaur taking 5-2 from four overs, while Indhuja Nandakumar claimed 3-6 and Samaira Dharnidharka grabbed one. In reply, Theertha Satish scored run-a-ball four, while Lavanya Keny scored three. The record of lowest
score in T20s belongs to Maldives, who were bowled out for six runs against Bangladesh in the 13th South Asian Games in Pokhara in 2019. Nepal's previous lowest score in T20s was 50, against Bangladesh, also in Pokhara.
Coach Mahesh Rijal said the team failed to handle left hand swing bowler Mahika Gaur.
'Her accurate bowling with swing caused terror in our batters and the innings just collapsed,' said Rijal. 'I take full responsibility of today's performance and apologise for the humiliating loss. We will try our best to bounce back in the next match,' he added.
Nepal, who defeated Qatar by 79 runs in the previous match, will next face Bhutan on Tuesday.
A total of six teams are taking part in the Asia Qualifier and the winners will earn berth in the ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup to be held in South Africa next year.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 5, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.