By Spy Uganda
Hosts Nepal succumbed to a 12-run defeat against Uganda in the opening game of the five-match women’s Twenty20 International bilateral series that kicked off on Monday at the TU ground in Kirtipur.
The home team came up with a poor batting performance and were restricted at 90-9 after Uganda, sent into bat first, and posted 102-5 in the short format game.
Nepal’s three top-order batters Bindu Rawal, Jyoti Pandey and Indu Barma were all run out. Only four Nepali batters managed to touch double-digit figures.
Opener Rawal was the first home team batter to depart with 12 runs under her belt. She hit two fences in her 23-ball knock before she was dismissed for 20 runs on board. Her opening partner Pandey departed for six runs with a score of 2-25.
Barma scored 28-ball 16 runs, the highest of the innings. The newly appointed vice-captain, who hit a four, was also run out in the first delivery of the 19th over. Nepal required 26 runs from the last two overs and Barma’s departure at the moment came as a hammer blow to Nepal’s slim hope of pulling victory.
Lower order batters Dolly Bhatta contributed 13 off 10 comprising two fences before she was bowled by Concy Aweko. Kabita Kunwar remained unbeaten on 11 runs facing six deliveries. She hit a boundary. Captain Rubina Chhetry (9), Apsari Begam (1), Kabita Joshi (4), Roma Thapa (5) and Asmina Karmacharya (0) were out cheaply.
Uganda bowlers Aweko and Sarah Akiteng grabbed two wickets each while Janet Mbabazi and Rita Musamali picked one scalp each. Aweko conceded 15 runs in her four-over spell while Akiteng gave away 13 runs in as many overs.
Earlier, Janet Mbabazi contributed 29 runs, the highest for Uganda. Though Uganda opener Leona Babriye was bowled by Kabita Kunwar for a duck with just one run on board, Mbabazi shared a 45-run stand for the second wicket with the other opener Kevin Awino.
Player-of-the-match Mbabazi hit three fences in her 38-ball knock. She was trapped leg before by Barma as the second wicket in the 13th over. Opener Awino played a patient 30-ball 15 before she was caught by Barma off captain Chhetri.
Rita Nyangendo contributed 18 off 13. She hit a boundary and the only six of the match before she was caught by Rawal off Kunwar. Rita Musamali remained not out on 13 runs off 17 and Franklin Najjumba contributed 12 runs facing 18 deliveries.
Nepal’s Kunwar claimed two wickets while captain Chhetry, Joshi and Barma picked one wicket each. Kunwar gave away 15 runs in her four-over spell while Chhetry became the most expensive bowler for Nepal conceding 30 runs in her four-over bowling.
The second match of the series is scheduled for Tuesday.
