Nepal women missed out an opportunity to participate in the global qualifiers for the Women’s World Cup as it finished second in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifying Series Asia Region in Hong Kong behind Thailand.
However, second place finish mean that Nepal women will play the Asia Cup Women’s Cricket planned for November, 2016 in Thailand alongside the teams from four Test nations and the hosts. Thailand was guranteed a place as hosts in the six-team event.
Nepal began the tournament with two losses, each to Hong Kong and Thailand before beating China in the first round of the double-round league. In the second stage, Nepal beat Hong Kong by 6 runs keeping hopes alive as China beat Thailand in a suprise result.
Nepal could’ve made the position strong had it beaten Thailand but it couldn’t defend it’s top score of 108 and lost to Thailand by a wicket. A result that ensured Thailand’s qualification with fourth win. In the final match, Nepal easily beat China and finished second.
[table caption=”ICC WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING SERIES ASIA REGION, 2016/17
Final Standing”]
Position, Country, Matches, Wins, Losses, Points
1, Thailand, 6, 5, 1, 10
2, Nepal, 6, 3, 3, 6
3, China, 6, 2, 4, 4
4, Hong Kong, 6, 2, 4, 4
[/table]
Nepal’s all matches
Nepal vs Hong Kong on October 9 at Mong Kok: Nepal Women 77 all out in 19.2 overs (Nirmala Shahi 18, Rubina Chetry 12, Rashmi Chaulagain 11, Hill 2/16, Man 2/11, Har 2/17) lost to Hong Kong Women 78/4 in 16.3 overs (Yip 33, Niramala 2/14) by 6 wickets (with 21 balls remaining).
Nepal vs Thailand on October 10 at Mong Kok: Nepal Women 76/8 in 20 overs (Nirmala Shahi 36) lost to Thailand Women 77/7 in 18.4 overs (Sutthiruang 23*, Nirmala 3/7, Sarita Magar 2/14) by 3 wickets (with 8 balls remaining).
Nepal vs China on October 11 at Kowloon: Nepal Women 95/9 in 20 overs (Nary Thapa 38, Nirmala 14, Yingying 5/12) beat China Women 75/8 in 20 overs (Wu 11*, Sita Rana Magar 3/16, Sabnam Rai 2/10) by 20 runs.
Nepal vs Hong Kong on October 13 at Kowloon: Nepal Women 75/8 in 20 overs (Karuna Bhandari 19*, Indu Berma 15, Jyoti Pandey 11, Nary Thapa 10, Man 3/11) beat Hong Kong Women 69 all out in 17.4 overs (Chan 18, Karuna 3/17, Sita Rana Magar 2/15) by 6 runs.
Nepal vs Thailand on October 14 at Wong Nai: Nepal Women 108/4 in 20 overs (Nary Thapa 32*, Indu Berma 26, Nirmala Shahi 20, Jyoti Pandey 13, Rubina Chetry 10*, Sutthiruang 2/24) lost to Thailand Women 109/9 in 18.4 overs (Sutthiruang 27*, Chantam 23, Karuna Bhandari 4/15, Sita Rana Magar 2/14, Rubina Chetry 2/34) by 1 wicket (with 8 balls remaining).
Nepal vs China on October 15 at Mong Kok: China Women 85/7 in 20 overs (Song 34, Rubina Chetry 2/10) lost to Nepal Women 88/6 in 17.3 overs (Nary Thapa 22, Sita Rana Magar 20, Rubina 13*, Indu Berma 10) by 4 wickets (with 15 balls remaining).
[table caption=”Top Performers for Nepal (Batting)”]
#,Player,Matches,Runs,Highest,Average
1, Nary Thapa, 6, 111, 38, 22.20
2, Nirmala Shahi, 6, 93, 36, 15.50
3, Indu Berma, 6, 64, 26, 10.66
4, Rubina Chetry, 6, 50, 13*, 16.66
5, Jyoti Pandey, 6, 40, 13, 6.66
[/table]
[table caption=”Top Performers for Nepal (Bowling)”]
#,Player,Matches,Wickets,Best,Average
1, Karuna Bhandari, 6, 9, 4/15, 8.22
2, Nirmala Shahi, 6, 8, 3/7, 11.25
3, Sita Rana Magar, 6, 7, 3/16, 9.14
4, Sarita Magar, 6, 3, 2/14, 20.0
5, Sabnam Rai, 6, 3, 2/10, 27.33
[/table]