Pakistan 'A' beat Nepal in Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars opener
Pakistan will face India at the same venue on Sunday
BANGKOK: Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ produced a solid performance to register a 30-run victory over Nepal in the opening match of the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars at the Terdthai Cricket Ground on Friday.
Batting first, Pakistan posted 137-6 in 20 overs, with captain Hafsa Khalid top-scoring with an unbeaten 40, which included two boundaries and a six.
Left-arm spinners Anosha Nasir and Momina Riasat were instrumental with the ball, sharing a five wickets to restrict Nepal to 107-6.
Pakistan’s innings began on a shaky note as openers Shawaal Zulfiqar and Yusra Amir were dismissed for just 19 runs.
Khalid then joined Huraina Sajjad (17 off 23 balls, 1×4) to form a 37-run partnership that steadied the innings.
Nepal fought back in the middle overs, claiming three wickets in six overs between the 11th and 16th, reducing Pakistan from 56-2 to 83-5.
A late surge from Waheeda Akhtar, who scored 23 off 15 balls with five boundaries, helped boost the total.
Eman Naseer (9 not out off 4 balls) finished the innings with a six in the final over, giving Pakistan a defendable score. For Nepal, Kabita Kunwar was the most effective bowler, taking 2-10 in her two overs.
In response, Nepal lost Samjhana Khadka early in the third over, but Bindu Rawal (39 off 45 balls, 8×4) and Puja Mahato added stability, taking the score from 15-1 to 62 before Rawal was dismissed by Riasat.
Anosha Nasir then struck in the 12th over, followed by successive wickets in the next two overs, leaving Nepal struggling at 69-6 in 13.3 overs.
Despite a resilient 38-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Sita Rana Magar (19 not out, 22 balls, 2×4) and Kunwar (18 not out, 20 balls, 1×4), Nepal fell short.
Anosha Nasir finished with 4-0-20-3, Momina Riasat took 4-0-21-2, and Waheeda Akhtar claimed 1-19 from her three overs.
Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ will take on India ‘A’ in their second Group A match at the same venue on Sunday, 15 February, with the first ball scheduled for 12pm PKT.
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