Dambulla, Jul 19: Opener Samjhana Khadka made a breezy, unbeaten fifty and pacer Indu Barma grabbed three wickets as Nepal outclassed UAE by six wickets to make a winning start to their campaign in the Women's T20 Asia Cup here on Friday. Khadka (72 not out, 45b, 11x4) played a fine hand to take her side past the target of 116 in 16.1 overs. Harmanpreet Kaur's 'That's None of My Business' Response To A Question About Media Presence Ahead of IND-W vs PAK-W Women's Asia Cup 2024 Goes Viral (Watch Video).

Nepal had played eight games at the Women's Asia Cup in 2012 and 2016 combined but couldn't register a single win. Then they didn't make the next two editions in 2018 and 2022. They almost missed the bus for the Women's Asia Cup 2024 too, but a late tweak in rules in March 2024 brought Nepal in the 2024 edition, and now they have their first-ever win in the competition.

The Emirates' outfit could not fight against the more experienced Nepal bowlers led by Barma (3/19), ending up at a below par 115 for eight. However, Nepal had to go through some anxious moments when they lost three wickets to off-spinner Kavisha Egodage (3/12) that temporarily halted their progress after the Power Play.

But Khadka singlehandedly guided Nepal's chase, playing shots around the park. Earlier, Khushi Sharma (36, 39 balls, 2x4) and Egodage (22, 26b, 2x4) arrested a slide after UAE found themselves at 38 for three after the Power Play segment.

But their knocks consumed way too many balls and none of the other batters also could give momentum to UAE innings, stumbling against some accurate Nepal bowling. Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024 Points Table Updated Live: Check Team Standings of Group A and B With Net Run Rate.

Brief scores: UAE Women: 115/8 in 20 overs (Khushi Sharma 36, Kavisha Egodage 22; Indu Barma 3/19) lost to Nepal: 118/4 in 16.1 overs (Samjhana Khadka 72 not out; Kavisha Egodage 3/12) by six wickets.