Samjhana’s half century helps Nepal get first win in Women’s Asia Cup

KATHMANDU: Samjhana Khadka’s aggressive half-century led Nepal to its first-ever victory in the Women’s Asia Cup, defeating UAE by six wickets in the opening match of the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup in Dambulla on Friday.

Nepal chose to field first after winning the toss and restricted UAE to 116 runs with Captain Indu Barma taking three wickets. In response, Nepal chased down the target, scoring 118 for four with 23 balls to spare. Khadka scored an unbeaten 72 runs off 45 balls which included 11 fours.

This is Nepal’s first victory in nine Women’s Asia Cup matches. It lost all five matches in the 2016 tournament and all three in the 2012 edition.

Nepal put pressure on UAE early in the match as it took the wicket of Captain Esha Oza with just 11 runs on the board. UAE lost Theertha Satish and Rinita Rajith for nine and six runs, respectively. Khushi Sharma top-scored for UAE, scoring 36 from 39 balls, while Kavisha Egodage struck 22 runs from 26 balls. Samaira Dharnidharka scored 13 from 12 balls.

Indu Barma took three wickets for Nepal, while Sabnam Rai and Kritika Marasini took a wicket each. Three UAE batters were run out.

Chasing 116 to get their first ever victory in the Women’s Asia Cup, Nepal started brightly, scoring 39 runs for the first wicket. Opener Samjhana Khadka scored 72 runs from 45 balls. Captain Rubina Chhetry scored 10 while Puma Mahato remained unbeaten at 7.

Nepal will play its next match against Pakistan on Sunday.