Nepal-W vs Uganda-W, 1st T20I Review: Clinical visitors hand defeat to hosts by 12 runs

Uganda Women on May 16 (Monday) beat their opponents Nepal Women in the first T20I match played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. After scoring just 102 runs in their allotted 20 overs, the visitors managed to halt the home team on 90/9 in their 20 overs and won the contest easily. 

Nepal skipper Rubina Chhetry won the toss and opted to bowl first. The home side had some immediate success as they sent back the Uganda opener Leona Babirye for a first-ball duck. However, the wicketkeeper-batter Kevin Awino and Janet Mbabazi stitched a valuable partnership and took their team score past the 46-run mark before Mbabazi was sent back to the pavilion. The visitors suffered another big blow as the wicketkeeper-batter Awino got out quickly.

Some decent contributions from Franklin Najjumba, Rita Musamali, and Rita Nyangendo ensured that the visitors cross the 100-run mark in their allotted 20 overs. For Nepal, Kabita Kunwar (two wickets), Rubina Chhetry (one wicket), Kabita Joshi (one wicket), and Indu Barma (one wicket) were successful bowlers.

Nepal had a decent start in their chase

Chasing 103 to win, the home side had a decent start as they scored 20 runs without losing any wickets. However, opener Bindu Rawal was unlucky as she got run out after scoring 12. Nepal then continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.

The middle-order of Nepal including wicketkeeper-batter Jyoti Pandey, skipper Rubina Chhetry, Apsari Begam, Kabita Joshi, and Roma Thapa failed to get into double digits as the visitors continued to apply pressure with their consistent bowling. For Nepal, Indu Barma (16 off 28 balls) was the highest run-getter as Nepal fell short of the target by 12 runs and gifted the victory to Uganda.

For Uganda, Concy Aweko and Sarah Akiteng scalped two wickets each, and Janet Mbabazi and Rita Musamali took one wicket each. Janet Mbabazi was adjudged the Player of the Match for her contribution with both bat and ball.