Samjhana Khadka leads Nepal's charge in Asia Cup opener

In a thrilling start to the Women's Asia Cup 2024, Nepal Women defeated United Arab Emirates Women by six wickets at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

Batting first, the UAE scored 115/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Khushi Sharma anchored the innings with a solid 36 off 39 balls, while Kavisha Egodage contributed 22 runs. Indu Barma was the standout bowler for Nepal, claiming 3 wickets for just 19 runs. Frequent wickets and three critical run-outs hindered the UAE's momentum.

In response, Nepal chased down the target of 116 in 16.1 overs, led by a magnificent unbeaten 72 off 45 balls from Samjhana Khadka, who struck 11 boundaries. Despite early setbacks with the loss of Sita Rana Magar (7) and Kabita Kunwar (2), Khadka's aggressive approach kept Nepal ahead. Egodage's impressive bowling figures of 3 wickets for 12 runs couldn't turn the tide for UAE.

Nepal began their Asia Cup campaign with a dominant performance, with Khadka's explosive innings earning her the Player of the Match award. The victory sets a strong tone for Nepal as they look to make their mark in the tournament. 

POTM: Samjhana Khadka

Brief Scores: UAEW 115/8 (Khushi Sharma 36, Kavisha Egodage 22; Indu Barma 3/19) LOST to NEPW 118/4 (Samjhana Khadka 72, Rubina Chhetry; Kavisha Egodage 3/12) by Six Wickets.

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