Nepal suffered a heavy nine-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the second Group A match of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Chasing 109 runs, Pakistan rode on an opening stand of 105 runs between Gul Feroza, who hit a half-century, and Muneeba Ali to reach the target in just 11.5 overs.
Nepal made a dream start to their Asia Cup campaign by beating the United Arab Emirates by six wickets on Friday to win their first title in three appearances and would have booked a place in the semi-finals with an upset win over Pakistan.
After being selected to bat first, Nepal posted 108-6 in 20 overs.
But Nepal’s bowlers could never really trouble the two-time Asia Cup runners-up Pakistan, who went past 50 in the powerplay to seal a swift victory.
Pakistan had lost the opening match to defending champions India by seven wickets and was in a must-win situation.
Feroza started the innings smoothly and never let up, reaching his first fifty in just 30 balls.
Ali started slowly but quickly picked up the pace with some big strikes and remained unbeaten on 46 runs off 34 balls until the end.
Nepal finally got a wicket when Kavita Kunwar caught Feroza off the second ball of the 12th over, but it came too late.
Feroza finished the innings with 57 runs off 35 balls.
NRR’s win has lifted Pakistan to second place in Group A. Pakistan will next face the UAE on Tuesday.
Samujana Khadka, fresh from her winning 72 off 45 balls in the UAE match, started the second innings and took a four from Fatima Sana off the fourth ball, but was run out off the very next ball when Nashra Sandhu dismissed Khadka with a simple catch at midwicket.
Khadka’s opening partner Sita Rana Magar and Kavita Kunwar built up the innings by adding 26 runs for the second wicket.
But spinner Saida Iqbal rallied fiercely in the fifth over, removing Kunwar for 13 and ducking captain Indu Varma with three balls to spare to slow Nepal’s pace.
Rubina Chhetri finally got a boundary in the ninth over but was run out two balls later, leaving Nepal struggling at 40-4.
Rana Magar then added 25 for the fifth wicket with Puja Mahato as Nepal struggled at 65 for 4 after the 13th over.
Nepal soon suffered a five-wicket defeat after the combination of Tuba Hassan and Ali got Rana Magar out.
However, Puja Mahato and Kavita Joshi combined for 34 for the sixth wicket to take Nepal past the 100-run mark.
Mahato scored 25 runs off 32 balls while Joshi scored 31 runs off 23 balls not out.
“We tried our best to play good cricket. Pakistan is a very good team but we failed to execute our plan,” Nepal captain Verma said after the defeat.
Pakistan captain Nida Dar was full of praise for Feroza and Ali.
“We batted and bowled well so we should take this win forward. Muneeva and Feroza came out on top with a perfect combination. They got the momentum going so there were a lot of positives.”
“We’re moving forward,” she said.
Nepal will face India in their final group match on Tuesday.
