By Jay Dansinghani

Pakistan-A defended a total of 87 against Nepal, who fell short by a mere nine runs in the morning game on the second day of the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup. The afternoon game was more one-sided as Shreyanka Patil’s five wickets for two runs helped bowl Hong Kong out for 34 before India-A’s batters chased down the target with more than 14 overs to spare.

Nepal vs Pakistan-A

Nepal’s decision to bowl first was immediately vindicated after dangerous opener Eyman Fatima nicked Kabita Kunwar to Indu Barma in the slip cordon.

Sadaf Shamas struck a pair of boundaries, including one that she slashed over backward point off Kunwar. Not to be left behind, Zulfiqar guided a ball to deep backward point to pick up her first boundary.

However, off-spinner Kabita Joshi turned the tide, bowling Shamas with a ball that turned in sharply to disturb her timber and leave Pakistan with work to do at 32 for two in the sixth over.

Wickets continued to tumble, including that of Zulfiqar who tried to fetch a Sita Rana Magar delivery from outside off stump, only managing to find Samjhana Khadka at long on who took an impressive low catch.

Indu Barma was introduced late in the innings, taking three quick wickets to help skittle Pakistan-A out for 87 in 19.2 overs.

Chasing 4.4 runs an over for victory, Nepal got off to a circumspect start, scoring 8 runs in the first five overs without losing a wicket. Sita Rana Magar drilled a ball through extra cover off Anosha Nasir to pick up her first boundary and inject some momentum into Nepal’s chase.

This momentum, however, would prove to be short-lived.

Magar found the safe hands of Gull Feroza at long on to give Umm-e-Hani and Pakistan-A their first wicket. Soon after, Bindu Rawal was trapped in front by Tuba Hassan to leave Nepal in a spot of bother at 28 for two in the tenth over. Hassan would strike again in her next over, after Najiha Alvi whipped off the bails to send Kunwar packing for 20.

Rubina Chhetry walked in at five and struggled to get going before sweeping a four into the leg side. With 35 required off 31 balls, Nepal still had a chance of overhauling Pakistan-A’s total.

Yet, after losing Chhetry and Khadka in quick succession, their chase petered out and they fell nine agonizing runs short of what would have been a memorable victory.

In spite of ending up on the losing side, Kabita Kunwar earned the Player-of-the-match award for her innings of 20 and taking two wickets in the first innings.

Brief Scores:

Pakistan-A 87 All Out in 19.2 Overs (Zulfiqar 28, Barma 3-6, Kunwar 2-12) beat Nepal 78 for 6 in 20 Overs (Kunwar 20, Syeda Aroob Shah 2-16, Tuba Hassan 2-23) by 9 runs

Scorecards and Livestream

Hong Kong vs India-A

After opting to bowl first, India-A got off to a dream start. Natasha Miles swept Mannat Kashyap to Gongadi Trisha at square leg in the second over before Titas Sadhu bowled Shanzeen Shahzad with a ball that angled in sharply from wide of the crease.

Kary Chan tried to break the shackles against Kashyap, only managing to find Kanika Ahuja at mid on. Her wicket left Hong Kong reeling at 5 for three in the fourth over.

Marina Lamplough and Mariko Hill stitched together a brief partnership of 14, which included a pair of boundaries from Hill. Just as Hong Kong looked like they were inching their way back into the game, eventual Player-of-the-match Shreyanka Patil bowled Lamplough with a delivery that snuck under her attempted sweep shot.

Hill would be Patil’s next victim, getting an outside edge to keeper Uma Chetry to reduce Hong Kong to 24 for five. The second half of Hong Kong’s batting order was not able to provide much resistance as the home side folded for 34 in 14 overs.

In spite of losing Shweta Sehrawat early to an impressive leaping catch from Kary Chan off Betty Chan’s bowling, India A’s chances of victory were never in doubt. Gongadi Trisha sealed the chase by pulling Ruchi Venkatesh into cow corner for the only maximum of the game.

Brief Scores:

India-A 38 for 1 in 5.2 Overs (Trisha 19*, Chetry 16) beat Hong Kong 34 All Out in 14 Overs (Hill 14, Patil 5-2) by 9 wickets with 14.4 overs to spare

Scorecards and Livestream