Nepal Claims Narrow Victory Over Uganda in Women’s Day Cup

Nepal defeated Uganda by one wicket in the Women’s Day Cup, ending a nine-match losing streak. U-19 skipper Puja Mahato excelled with both bat and ball, leading the team to a remarkable victory. With key contributions from debutant Sana Praveen and others, Nepal successfully chased down a target of 76 runs, marking their first win in Africa.

Nepal achieved a remarkable one-wicket triumph over Uganda in the Women’s Day Cup Twenty20 Series held in Entebbe, marking the end of a nine-match losing streak for the Nepali women’s national team. This victory comes after a previous win against the UAE in Sri Lanka on July 19, 2024, followed by several defeats.

U-19 skipper Puja Mahato played a pivotal role in this success, delivering an outstanding performance that included a three-wicket haul and contributing 16 runs. This victory marked Nepal’s first win on African soil, effectively demonstrating Puja’s prowess in both batting and bowling.

Winning the toss, Nepal opted to field first, restricting Uganda to a total of 75 runs. In response, Nepal chased down the target of 76 runs successfully in 19.5 overs, despite losing nine wickets during the innings. Sana Praveen, making her debut, was the highest scorer with 17 runs off 36 deliveries.

In addition to Puja’s contributions, former captain Rubia Chhetry added 10 runs, with other notable contributions from Ishwori Bist and Riya Sharma, who scored 3 and 4 runs, respectively. For Uganda, the bowling efforts by Janet Mbabazi and Sarah Walaza, who took three and two wickets respectively, were commendable.

In Uganda’s batting lineup, Immaculate Nakisuuyi emerged as the top scorer with 22 runs from 40 balls, supported by Malisa Ariokot and Stephanie Nampiina with scores of 11 and 14 runs, respectively. Puja’s bowling capabilities, highlighted by her three-wicket haul, were instrumental in leading Nepal to victory. Nepal, after facing a defeat against Namibia, is now set to compete against Hong Kong on Monday.

In summary, Nepal’s triumphant one-wicket victory against Uganda signifies a significant achievement for the Nepali women’s cricket team, breaking a prolonged losing streak. Key performances from U-19 skipper Puja Mahato, along with solid contributions from debutant Sana Praveen, paved the way for this historic win. The match not only underscores Nepal’s potential in women’s cricket but also sets a promising tone for their upcoming encounters, including a match against Hong Kong.

Original Source: risingnepaldaily.com