Uganda take 2-0 lead

By A Staff Reporter Kathmandu, May 18: Uganda clinched a one-wicket victory over Nepal to take a 2-0 lead in the Women’s Twenty20 International Series at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Tuesday. Put in to bat first, Nepal posted a medium score of 101 runs after losing seven wickets in 20 overs. 

The visitors, in reply, survived the late surge from Nepali bowlers, to achieve the victory with one ball and one wicket to spare.

Rita Musamali hit three fences to contribute with a 34-ball 30 that led Uganda closer to a win. 

Janet Mbabazi added run-a-ball 16 and Franklin Najjumba collected 28-ball 19 for the visitors.

Uganda needed ten runs from the last 12 balls for the win. Sabnam Rai bowled out Phiona Kulume (8-ball 5) and picked Evelyn Anyipo for a duck in the last two balls of the 19th over to keep Nepal in the hunt. Kabita Kunwar then picked a prized wicket of Franklin in the first ball of the last over.

The run out of Sarah Walaza (0) in the next ball evenly poised the match. But Nepal slipped the game away after conceding three runs in the third and fourth ball. Sarah Akiteng killed the match for Uganda after collecting a winning run in the penultimate ball of the last over.

Kabita Kunwar spent 18 runs to pick two wickets from her bowling of 3.5 over. Sabnam Rai finished with a figure of 2-23. Former vice captain Sita Rana Magar claimed one wicket giving away 21 runs.

Captain Rubina Chhetry finished with a bowling figure of 1-16.

Earlier, Bindu Rawal made the highest score for Nepal with a knock of 36-ball 26. 

Sarita Magar was another significant contributor with 27-ball 22. Rawal paired with Magar to add 21 runs for the third wicket.

Captain Chhetry chipped in with a cameo of 15-ball 17 before being run out in the last ball. Dolly Bhatt was not out with nine runs.  Sita, who returned from participating in the Fair Break Invitational 2022 Cricket in Dubai, added six runs before being run out in the last ball of the 15th over.

She won the title from her team Tornadoes. She was featured in the first 11 in all the matches of Tornadoes. 

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) appointed Indu Barma the vice-captain replacing Magar. Addressing the post-match conference, Magar requested CAN change captain too. “I agree with the decisions from the association. 

It would have been better if CAN also change the captain to groom the new players. I am happy to play cricket with or without a post. The position does not matter me.”

Janet Mbabazi picked two wickets while Evelyn Anyipo, Concy Aweko and Rita Musamali claimed one wicket each for the tourists. Nepal lost the first match by 12 runs on Monday. The third match of the series will be held on Thursday.