Bangkok (Sports Report): Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ captain Hafsa Khalid top-scored with 40 not out in her team’s total of 137-6 in 20 overs, which they defended successfully by restricting Nepal to 107-6 with left-arm spinners Anosha Nasir and Momina Riasat taking five wickets combined here at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok on Friday morning.
On Sunday, 15 February, Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ will face India ‘A’ in their second Group A fixture at the same venue with the first ball expected to be bowled at 12pm PKT.
After Pakistan ‘A’ were asked to bat first, they lost the opening duo of Shawaal Zulfiqar and Yusra Amir with 19 runs on the board. From this juncture, player of the match Hafsa joined forces with Huraina Sajjad (17, 23b, 1x4) and stitched a 37-run stand.
Nepal then took three wickets in six overs from 11th to 16th as Pakistan ‘A’ slipped from 56-2 to 83-5. Waheeda Akhtar walked in at no.7 and struck five fours in her 15-ball 23 providing much-needed impetus to the innings.
Eman Naseer (9 not out, 4b, 1x6) hit a six in the last over to close the innings on a high note. Meanwhile, Hafsa hit two fours and one six in her outing. For Nepal, Kabita Kunwar picked up two for 10 in her two overs.
In turn, Nepal lost Samjhana Khadka early in third over before Bindu Rawal (39, 45b, 8x4s) and Puja Mahato took the score from 15-1 to 62 before the former fell to Momina. Anosha Nasir then landed two blows in the 12th over before two more wickets in the next as many overs meant Nepal slipped to 69-6 in 13.3 overs.
Sita Rana Magar (19 not out, 22b, 2x4s) and Kabita Kunwar (18 not out, 20b, 1x4) remained unbeaten adding 38 runs for the seventh wicket but in vain. Anosha returned figures of 4-0-20-3, while Momina’s analysis read 4-0-21-2. Waheeda picked up one for 19 in her three overs.
Scores in brief
Pakistan ‘A’ v Nepal at Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok
Pakistan ‘A’ 137-6, 20 overs (Hafsa Khalid 40 not out, Waheeda Akhtar 23, Huraina Sajjad 17; Kabita Kunwar 2-10)
Nepal 107-6, 20 overs (Bindu Rawal 39, Sita Rana Magar 19 not out, Kabita Kunwar 18 not out; Anosha Nasir 3-20, Momina Riasat 2-21)
Player of the match – Hafsa Khalid (Pakistan Women’s ‘A’)
