ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier Nepal struggle after back‑to‑back defeats

By Pramod Joshi

Kathmandu, Jan. 23: Nepal women’s national cricket team were expected to show improved batting after their middle‑order collapse cost them the opening match against Thailand at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Kathmandu.

However, they failed to deliver on captain Indu Barma’s promise of coming back stronger with stable middle order on Thursday. 

The batters did not learn from their mistakes and suffered a narrow two‑run loss against the Netherlands, complicating their campaign. 

With back‑to‑back defeats, Nepal sit fourth in the group, ahead of Zimbabwe, who lost their third match in a row today. 

To make to Super Six, Nepal need to bag victory in their remaining matches against Zimbabwe on 24 January and Scotland on 26 January.

On the other hand, the Netherlands secured three straight wins to reach the Super Six. Bangladesh also advanced from Group A with three consecutive victories.

Chasing 141 at TU Cricket Ground, Nepal were restricted to 138 for seven in their 20 overs.

Openers Bindu Rawal and Samjhana Khadka gave Nepal a promising start before the middle order faltered. Both departed with the score on 35. 

Bindu was run out for 18 off 15 balls with four fours, while Samjhana made 14 from eight deliveries with three boundaries.

Skipper Indu Barma (6), Kajal Shrestha (4) and Pooja Mahato (8) fell cheaply, leaving Nepal struggling at 62 for five. 

Rubina Chhetri and Kabita Joshi added 30 for the sixth wicket, with the former captain holding firm. Joshi fell for 13, followed by Kabita Kunwar, who managed just one.

Rubina and Sita Rana Magar revived hopes late on with unbroken stand of 45 for eighth wicket, but with 6 needed from the final ball, former could only muster four. 

Rubina remained unbeaten on 37 from 32 balls with five boundaries, while Sita struck a blistering 27 not out from 12 balls, including five fours and a six.

Rubina also reached the personal milestone of 1,000 T20I runs, becoming the second Nepali player to do so after Indu Barma. She now has 1,005 runs from 81 matches. 

Barma leads with 1,053 runs, followed by Sita Rana Magar on 992 from 65 matches. Rubina averages 20, with one century and one half‑century, her highest score being an unbeaten 118. 

Dutch bowler Isabel van der Woning was declared player of the match for her 3-16 figure.

Despite the achievement, Rubina admitted she was not satisfied. “I am not happy with the milestone. I expect everyone to make the most of their opportunities,” she said.

Chhetri added that Nepal had been well placed to chase down the target but failed to find the decisive boundaries. 

“We needed 13 from six balls and were focusing on boundaries. Unfortunately, we could not find the shot. Overall, it was a good game. Coming close to victory from a situation where we were staring at defeat is also a good build‑up for the upcoming matches,” she remarked.

She identified the lack of middle‑order partnerships as the turning point. “We lost wickets at regular intervals. On a flat pitch, we could have managed eight to ten runs per over. A solid middle‑order stand could have taken the match our way,” she explained.

Earlier, the Netherlands chose to bat first and posted 140 for five. Nepal started well with the ball as Somu Bist dismissed opener Phebe Molkenboer for a duck. Heather Siegers struck three boundaries in her 13 before falling to Pooja Mahato.

Despite losing both openers inside two overs, Captain Babette de Leede and Sterre Kalis added 79 for the third wicket. 

Riya Sharma broke the stand by bowling Kalis for 30 off 34 balls. De Leede top‑scored with 49 before being caught and bowled by Rubina Chhetri, having faced 47 balls and struck seven boundaries.

Rubina also trapped Frederique Overdijk (5) lbw, finishing with figures of 2 for 21 from three overs. 

Robin Rijke made 19 off 17 balls with three fours, while Iris Zwilling remained unbeaten on 14 from nine deliveries with two boundaries.

Elsewhere, Scotland claimed their first win in Group B with a five‑wicket victory over Zimbabwe. 

In Group A, Bangladesh remained unbeaten to top the table with an 80‑run win against Namibia, while Ireland secured a 16‑run win over the USA.