Nepali team loses to USA by 6 wickets in Women's T20 World Cup qualifier practice match
What you should know
Despite some improvement in their batting, Nepal lost to the United States by six wickets in the second warm-up match of the Women's Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers. This was Nepal's second consecutive loss in a warm-up match.
Nepal, who were invited to bat after losing the toss, scored 136 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. In reply, the US achieved the target with 5 balls to spare after opener Chetna Reddy scored a half-century.
Nepal had suffered a 99-run defeat on Wednesday after scoring only 100 runs in the first warm-up match against Ireland. But Nepal's top order batted much better on Friday. Samjhana Khadka and Bindu Rawal gave Nepal a very good start. The two added 42 runs in 6 overs. Samjhana, who was run out in a very tight situation while trying to take 1 run on her own call, scored 24 runs with 3 fours in 20 balls. She escaped being caught out with 3 runs. Vice-captain Pooja Mahato scored 17 runs with 2 fours in 15 balls.
Captain Indu Verma scored 4 runs with 1 four in 5 balls. Bindu was also run out for 27 runs. She hit 3 fours in 28 balls. Kavita Kunwar was out for 3 and Rubina Chhetri for 5 runs. Kavita Joshi and Roma Thapa batted well in the middle order and put Nepal in a good position. Kavita scored 20 runs in 14 balls with 4 fours and Roma scored 19 runs in 14 balls with 1 four and a six. Sita Rana Magar could only score 1 run. Rajmati Airi remained unbeaten on 8 runs in 7 balls with 1 four and Manisha Upadhyay remained unbeaten on 1 run.
Taranum Chopra of America took 3 wickets. She gave away 23 runs in 4 overs. Sainavi Reddy took 2 wickets in 2 overs for 20 runs, while Geetika Kodile and Ritu Singh took 1 wicket each. The United States had achieved a sensational victory over Scotland in the first practice match, achieving a target of 150 runs. After Reddy scored an unbeaten 56 runs in 46 balls with 6 fours, Nepal's chances of winning were slim. Ritu remained unbeaten on 19 runs off 13 balls, including 2 fours. Her opening pair Gagri Bhogle scored 4 runs and was brilliantly caught by Indu off Somu Bista.
Ella Claridge was run out for 14 runs off 14 balls, including 3 fours. Isani Baghela scored 20 runs. She hit 2 fours off 20 balls before being bowled off Riya Sharma. Captain Adiniba Chudas was dismissed off Rubina Chhetri for 13 runs. Somu Bista, Rubina and Riya Sharma took 1 wicket each for Nepal.
Bindu left the field early after getting injured while fielding. She did not return to the field later. This could be a matter of concern for Nepal. Nepal, which is in Group 'B', will play its first match of the tournament against Thailand on Sunday. They will then play against the Netherlands on January 22, Zimbabwe on January 24 and Scotland on January 26.
