Khadka, Barma star in Nepal's maiden Women's Asia Cup win

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 here, and now they have their first-ever win in the competition.

Riding on an unbeaten 72 from opener Samjhana Khadka and a three-wicket haul from captain Indu Barma, Nepal defeated the more-fancied UAE by six wickets in the tournament opener. They got home with 23 balls to spare after restricting UAE to 115 for 8 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

Nepal finished as the semi-finalists in the qualifying tournament, the ACC Women's Premier Cup in February 2024. But while releasing the schedule in March, the Asian Cricket Council announced that the semi-finalists of that tournament would be eligible to play the tournament, making it the biggest-ever edition. Nepal's win on the opening day seems to validate that decision of expanding the tournament to more teams.

Khadka came into the Asia Cup in good form. She was the leading run-getter in the Lalitpur Mayor Women's Championship, Nepal's domestic T20 competition, in May. Her success for the Sudur Paschim Province, the runners-up, was primarily at the top of the order. Though she had never opened the batting in her 16 previous T20Is, Nepal decided to capitalise on her domestic form by bumping her up to the top, and she did not disappoint.

Khadka got going with a four by opening the face of the bat to guide Dharnidharka through backward point in the first over of the chase. She then showcased her power back-foot punches through cover in the third over, and Nepal were racing along. One of the characteristics of her knock was running between the wickets, which put pressure on the infielders. UAE crumbled under that pressure as Khadka did not miss out taking runs even on the half-stops.

Khadka held her own even when Egodage varied her pace and flight. Egodage, the Colombo-born UAE player who was playing in Sri Lanka for the first time, dismissed Sita Rana Magar and Kabita Kunwar to return figures of 4-1-12-3. None of the other bowlers were able to exert enough pressure.

The result? Khadka raced away to 50 off just 35 balls, the first half-century by a Nepal batter in the Women's Asia Cup. She finished with her career-best T20I score - when she hit the winning runs - a score that was 56 more than the previous best by a Nepal batter in the competition.

Nepal had pressed their seamers Kabita Kunwar and Sabnam Rai into action after opting to bowl. Even though they picked up two wickets - Esha Oza was run-out going for a non-existent single in the second over, and then Rinitha Rajith missed a wild hoick to be bowled on the next ball - the four overs they bowled in tandem went for 27. Once spin was introduced, the runs dried up.

After a quiet fifth over by Rubina Chhetry, Indu Barma beat Theertha Satish at her own game in the final over of the powerplay. Theertha, the UAE opener, loves driving the ball on the up. She showed that aplenty at the start, even though she found the fielders. The stride forward, the straight bat, the timing - everything was there in the only four she hit in her knock. Barma challenged her to repeat it against her offspin, and she held onto a return catch. UAE were three down inside the powerplay.

When Barma had Samaira Dharnidharka chip one to cover in the eighth over, UAE were 46 for 4. Khushi Sharma joined Kavisha Egodage at that point and the pair kept the scorecard ticking without taking too many risks. However, they could manage only two fours each and in their attempt to manufacture boundaries, they only found the fielders regularly and the running between the wickets was also marked by confusion.

In a bid to take the aerial route against left-arm spinner Kritika Marasini, Egodage sliced one to backward point. Khushi changed gears after that but to little effect. Chhetry, Barma and Kabita Joshi's offspin, and Sita Rana Magar and Marasini's left-arm spin never let the momentum slip, as UAE were kept to a below-par total after losing 3 for 6 at the back end.