Below-par Nepal lose home series with two matches to spare

Nepali women put a below-par performance while losing their first international bilateral series at home with two matches to spare after going down to Uganda by six wickets in the third Twenty20 International.

Electing to bat first at the TU grounds, Nepal were restricted to 99-8 on a batting surface. Poor fielding cost the hosts the match as Uganda reached 101-4 with 10 balls to spare. Nepal had lost the first match by 12 runs and second by one wicket as the slide under skipper Rubina Chhetri continued.

Jyoti Pandey top scored for Nepal with a 54-ball 47, while Rubina was the next best scorer making 18 from 15 balls hitting two boundaries. Jyoti’s innings included five hits to the fence. Sita Rana Magar, who had had a wonderful outing during the Fairbreak International Tournament in UAE prior to the series, made 12 runs.

Phiona Kulume, Concy Aweko and Sarah Akiteng took two wickets each for Uganda who hardly suffered during their chase despite losing opener Leona Babirye (five) with just nine runs on the board.

Another opener Kevin Awino and No 3 batswoman Janet Mbabazi laid the foundation for victory adding 68 runs for the second wicket. Player-of-the-match Awino hit four boundaries in her 51-ball 42. Mbabazi made 27 off 39 with a six and a four.

Kabit Kunwar took two wickets for Nepal, while Indu Barma and Rubina also had a wicket each.