Spinners-led Pakistan edge Nepal in Women’s Emerging Asia Cup

Spinners led by Syeda Aroob Shah and Tuba Hassan helped Pakistan successfully defend a low total against Nepal in their first match of the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023 at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Chasing a modest 88-run target, leg-spinners Aroob and Tuba never allowed the opposing batters to settle and picked up wickets regularly.

The duo ended up taking two wickets apiece, while off-spinner Umm-e-Hani and left-arm spinner Anoosha Nasir snapped a wicket each to give Pakistan a nine-run win.

For Nepal, Kabita Kunwar (20, 32b, 2x4s) and Kabita Joshi (15 not out, 17b, 1×4) were the only batters to enter into double figures.

Earlier, after being put into bat, Pakistan A were bowled out for 87 in 19.2 overs. Opening batter Shawaal Zulfiqar top-scored for her side with a 36-ball 28, hitting one four.

For Nepal, Indu Barma was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for six runs from three overs. Kabita Joshi, Kabita Kunwar and Sita Rana Magar bagged two wickets apiece.

Pakistan will now take on hosts Hong Kong on Thursday, 15 June in their second fixture of the ongoing Women’s Emerging Asia Cup. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 0600 PKT.

In another Group A fixture of the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup, dominant India humbled hosts Hong Kong by nine wickets and 88 balls remaining to occupy the top spot in the standings.

After putting Hong Kong into bat first, Indian bowlers, led by Shreyanka Patil bamboozled Hong Kong’s batting lineup and bundled them out for a meagre 34 runs in 14 overs.

Opening batter Mariko Hill remained the top-scorer for Hong Kong in their deplorable batting performance against India while none of their batters could get into the double figures.

Set to chase 35, India comfortably accumulated 38/1 in the sixth over despite their skipper Shweta Sehrawat (2) perishing in the second over.

Following an early setback, wicketkeeper batter U Chetry and Gongadi Trisha put on a match-winning 28-run partnership and steered their side to a statement victory.

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