Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ delivered a strong all-round performance to defeat Nepal by 30 runs in their opening match of the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars at Terdthai Cricket Ground on Friday.
Batting first, Pakistan posted 137-6 in 20 overs. Captain Hafsa Khalid led the way with an unbeaten 40, including two boundaries and a six.
Pakistan’s innings started shakily, as openers Shawaal Zulfiqar and Yusra Amir were dismissed early with the score at 19. Khalid then partnered with Huraina Sajjad, who scored 17 off 23 balls with one four, adding 37 runs to stabilize the innings.
Nepal applied pressure in the middle overs, taking three wickets in six overs between the 11th and 16th overs and reducing Pakistan from 56-2 to 83-5.
Waheeda Akhtar provided late momentum with a quick 23 off 15 balls, striking five boundaries. Eman Naseer added 9 not out off four balls and finished the innings with a six in the final over, helping Pakistan reach a competitive total. For Nepal, Kabita Kunwar was the most effective bowler, taking 2-10 in two overs.
In response, Nepal lost Samjhana Khadka in the third over. Bindu Rawal (39 off 45 balls, eight fours) and Puja Mahato steadied the innings, taking the score from 15-1 to 62 before Rawal was dismissed by Momina Riasat.
Left-arm spinner Anosha Nasir then struck in the 12th over and followed with successive wickets in the next two overs, leaving Nepal at 69-6 in 13.3 overs.
Nepal fought back through a 38-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Sita Rana Magar (19 not out off 22 balls, two fours) and Kabita Kunwar (18 not out off 20 balls, one four), but the target proved too much.
Nasir finished with figures of 4-0-20-3, Riasat took 4-0-21-2, and Akhtar claimed 1-19 from three overs.
Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ will next face India ‘A’ in their second Group A match at the same venue on Sunday, February 15. The match is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.
