KATHMANDU: Nepal has faced a 57-run defeat at the hand of host Thailand in their second match under the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Qualifier being held at Bangkok on Thursday.
Nepal secured only 67 runs at the cost of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs while chasing the 125-run target set by the opponent team. Except two players – Indu Barma and Sita Rana Magar, Nepal’s other players could not score double-digit runs. Barma was out for 29 runs off 44 balls while Magar scored 18 runs off 34 balls.
In reply, Thai cricketers Sornnarin Tippoch grabbed two wickets of Nepal giving away 12 runs in four overs, Suleeporn Laomi, Nattaya Boochatham and Chanida Sutthiruang grabbed one wicket each, thereby exerting pressure on Nepal.
Earlier, Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Thailand scored 124 runs in the allotted 20 overs losing seven wickets.
Chanida Sutthiruang top-scored with 35 runs including three fours off 29 balls, Naruemol Chaiwai made 32 runs including three fours off 27 balls while Wongpaka Liengprasert contributed 28 runs including one four off 27 balls.
In reply, Nary Thapa and Kabita Kunwar grabbed two wickets each of Thailand while Captain Rubina Chhetry and Karuna Bhandar claimed one wicket each.
Nepal will take on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in its third match on February 22, against Hong Kong on February 24, against China on February 25 and against Kuwait on February 27. The winner of the qualifiers will be selected for the ICC Women T-20 World Cup Qualifier 2019.
A total of seven countries from Asia are participating in the qualifier. Nepal, the UAE, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and Kuwait along with the host team Thailand are playing under the Round Robin League. Each team will play six games.
This qualifier would determine the raking of participating countries. Thailand is in the 12th position, UAE in the 14th while Nepal in the 16th in T-20 Ranking. A total of 27 countries including seven from Asia, nine from Africa, six from Oceania, three from Europe and two from America would compete in the first-phase selection.
A 14-member Nepali cricket team led by Captain Rubina Chhetri left here for Thailand on Saturday (February 16) for the same. Sita Rana Magar (Vice-Captain), Sarita Magar, Neri Thapa, Indu Barma, Sonu Khadka, Arati Bidari, Kajal Shrestha, Roma Thapa, Kabita Kunwar, Apsara Begam, Mamata Kumari Chaudhari and Bindu Rawal are in the team.
Similarly, Binod Das and Nira Rajopadhaya are the chief coach and assistant-coach of the team, respectively.
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