Barma steers Nepal past Kuwait for second win in a row

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug. 24: An all-round performance from Indu Barma steered Nepal to a second victory in the MCA Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series following their 34-run victory over Kuwait in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Wednesday.

Chasing a medium 90-run victory target, Kuwait managed to collect 55 runs losing eight wickets in 55 overs. 

Opener Zeefa Jilani (19-ball 11) and Khadija Khalil (22-ball 10) were the double-digit scorers for Kuwait. 

Barma was the pick of the bowler for Nepal with the dismissal of three wickets of Kuwait. Khushi Dangol picked two wickets while Kabita Kunwar, Sita Rana Magar and Ishwori Bist dismissed one batter each. 

After being invited to bat first at Bayuemas Oval, Nepal struggled to collect 89 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs. 

Player of the match Barma top scored with 19-ball 23 while Kajal Shrestha was not out with 19 runs off 18 balls. Opener Bindu Rawal was another two-digit contributor for Nepal with 45-ball 20. Nepal received 11 runs in extras. 

Mariamma Hyder spent eight runs to dismiss four Nepali batters. Maryam Omar claimed two wickets while Priyada Murali and Khadija Khalil claimed one wicket apiece. 

With two consecutive wins, Nepal closed in on the final of the series. Nepal will meet Malaysia in their last league match on Friday. The triumph over the host will send Nepal into the final. The top two teams in the league round will make it into the final of the series. 

After the series, Nepal will play a tune-up match against Thailand on August 28 before contesting in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Regional Qualifier starting from August 31. 

Along with Nepal, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Bhutan and Bahrain are pitted in Group A. China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Myanmar and Thailand make Group B. 

Nepal will launch its World Cup Qualifying campaign by playing against Malaysia on August 31. 

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. The finalists of the Asian qualifiers will secure a berth in the global qualifiers.