NEPAL BEAT UAE TO REACH GLOBAL ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER FOR THE FIRST TIME
Thailand have already qualified for the global event which is next stage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Thailand beat UAE by 54 runs but the winner of today’s match between Nepal and UAE would also qualify.
After a very exciting match Nepal overcame UAE by five wickets with just three balls to spare after Nepal had won the toss and asked UAE to bat first. A total of 114 for 7 proved to be just short of a winning score.
The first over of the match involved Esha Oza and Theerta Satish, the two leading run-scorers, facing the most successful pace bowler in Kabita Kunwar so we were hoping for a classic encounter.
Team Nepal pose for a group photo during the Super Three Match 2 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier between Nepal Women and United Arab Emirates Women, held at Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok, on 19 May 2025.
Photo by Anshuman Akash / @ICC
Four runs came off the first over and Puja Mahato bowled the second but the contest with Kunwar only lasted one over as she was replaced by Sabnam Rai and Oza hit the first boundary. Mahato bowled another tidy over but Satish hit Rai for four as UAE made 23 in five overs.
Kunwar changed ends for the last over of the powerplay. Kunwar is a quality seamer so Oza was content to play cautiously against an impressive maiden over. Raya Sharma then bowled an over of leg-spin before another pace bowler in Rajmati Airee was introduced and the captain Indu Barna then bowled her medium pace.
The openers were preserving their wickets rather more than going for their shots but Satish hit a second four before UAE lost their first wicket to the last ball of the 10th over as Satish was caught at cover off Airee for 21 from 31 balls leaving UAE 45 for 1.
Oza looked to be about to change gears as she hit a boundary to take UAE to 50 in the 11th over and then was dropped at long-on on 30. Lavanya Keny hit a four as UAE were 61 for 1 in 12 overs
Left-arm spinner Manisha Upadhayay was on and Oza eyes lit up as she hit a six over long on. Next ball she skied a simple catch into the off-side and was out for 39 off 39 balls with the score on 69 for 2
Left-arm seamer Airee was bowling her fourth over and Keny hit another four as Airee finished with 1 for 22. Keny was well caught by Barma off Upadhayay for 12 and only one run came off the over as UAE were 77 for 3 off 15.
UAE’s middle order would have to positively and Heena Hotchandani hit two fours as 10 came off the 16th over but Upadhayay took her third wicket as Michelle Botha was trapped lbw.
Kunwar bowled the 18th over and Hotchandani guided a four to third man as the hundred was up. Nepal kept the spinner on and she claimed her fourth wicket as she bowled Hotchandani for 20 from 16 balls.
Kunwar conceded a boundary in the last over but took two wickets from the fourth and sixth balls. Upadhayay finished with 4 for 20 and Kunwar 2 for 18.
Nepal beat UAE by six wickets in the Asia Cup in Dambulla last year as they chased 116. They would be confident of chasing a target of 115 but both sides needed to keep an eye on the weather with the clouds building.
Medium pacer Athige Silva bowled the first over for 2 and Michelle Botha bowled the second over with her left arm spin as Samjhana Khadka hit the first boundary of the innings.
Another over for Silva and another boundary for Khadka. Heena Hotchandani was on to bowl her left arm spin and left-handed bat Rajmati Airee was off the mark with a boundary. Nepal were 26 for 0 after five overs and ahead on DLS.
Airee was run out by a direct hit from Botha and UAE were now just ahead on DLS as it was getting darker. Leg-spinner Vaishnave Mahesh bowled the seventh over with Kabita Kunwar joining Khadka.
Khadka took her side to victory over UAE in Dambulla with an unbeaten 72 but Kotte had her caught for 21 from 27 balls as Nepal lost their second wicket on 34.
The third wicket fell on 38 as the leg-spinner had Kunwar caught at long on. Indu Barna and Puja Mahato were at the crease and it was the UAE spinners who were causing the problems.
Kotte was bowling her fourth over as the thunder was heard getting louder and four singles gave her figures of 1 for 12. Nepal were 45 for 3 and nine runs behind the par score at the halfway stage. Mahato hit a boundary off Mahesh but Katie Thompson was now on to bowl more left-arm spin and Nepal reached 58 for 3 from 12 overs.
A flash of lightning in the distance and Botha was back and got a wicket as Mahato was stumped and Nepal were 62 for 4. The captain Barma was joined at the crease by former captain Rubina Chhetri and Nepal’s last hopes would rest with this pair.
Chhetri hit a boundary off Thompson but only five off the over so 47 were needed of six overs. Another four for Chhetri off Botha and then a superb boundary over cover as 12 came off the 15th over. Nepal were 80 for 4 with 35 needed off 5 overs.
Now it was Barma who found the leg-side boundary off Thompson as eight came off the 16th over and Nepal were one run ahead on the DLS.
It was gloomy but this match was going down to the wire with the winner qualifying for the global stage. Hotchandani was back on and a misfield brought a three and a total of six runs came off the over. 21 runs were needed off 3 overs and Oza brought herself on. Runs were coming easily but Chhetri was caught at cover for 24 from 18 to make the score 99 for 5.
14 were needed off 2 overs after Rubi Poddar was off the mark with a two. Hotchandani bowled the 19th over and Barma was dropped then swept a four as 10 came off the over.
Four were needed off the last over. A single to Poddar then a two to Barma to level the scores. She hit a full toss to the mid-wicket boundary but they had already crossed for the match-winning single.
Nepal won by five wickets with three balls left as they reached the global qualifier of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup along with Thailand. Thailand have played in every event but it is a historic day for Nepal as they will play in the Global Qualifier for the first time. UAE will have to make sure that this is just a temporary setback to the progress of their women’s team.