Ashmina Karmacharya, the medium-fast bowler made her debut a month ago, on May 16, against Uganda Women at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
Karmacharya did not pick any wicket in her debut match and finished at 0 for 19 in her 3 overs. Since then, She has played six Women’s T20 International matches and has picked up at least one wicket in each game.
Ashmina, Take a bow!!!
Ashmina grabbed five-wickets against UAE Women to restrict the tournament favorites in just 81 runs. #NEPWvUAEW #ACCWT20C2022 pic.twitter.com/XQ9f6ysk4H— cricnepal.com 🇳🇵 🦏 (@cricnepal) June 24, 2022
Today, Ashmina picked her maiden five-for against the strong United Emirates Women’s team in the semi-final match to restrict them to 81 runs.
It was a do-or-die match for Rubina’s team as the winner not only reaches the final but progresses to the Asia Cup as well.
Rubina won the toss and without any hesitance, opted to field first. The UAE’s top-ordered had a great tournament so far and only three batters have batted in all four matches. Esha Oza had a century and 170 runs in total prior to this match. Theertha Satish, the other opener, who was yet to be dismissed made 110 runs with a strike rate of 110 and managed two half-centuries.
However, fortune favours the brave and it was Nepal Women’s day with the ball. The first three overs went quiet and the breakthrough came from Ashmina in fourth over. She bowled Theertha Satish for 5 runs(8 balls) and bowled Esha Oza in her next over for 15 runs(21 balls). UAE Women managed two wickets and 25 runs in the powerplay.
Right after, Sita Rana Magar joined the party and trapped Kavinash Egodage for 3 runs(8 balls). UAE were 46 for 3 at 11 overs stage. Indu Barma in her second over removed Khushi Sharma for 12 runs off 19 deliveries. Barma continued her impressive spell and picked up Chaya Mughal’s wicket for 14 runs (19 balls).
UAE Women lost half of their side inside 14 overs and Nepal Women were on the top. Barma was brought in to finish her spell, and she did not disappoint. Samaira Dharnidharka was dismissed leg before for 7 runs (17 balls). It was a quite impressive bowling performance by Indu Barma to finish with 3 for 16 runs in her four overs.
However, UAE Women leaked some runs at the 18th over when Sita Rana Magar came to finish her spell. She gave away 9 nines including two extras but removed Priyanjali Jain for 4 runs (10 balls), finishing her spell with two wickets in four overs. Sangita Rai just gave one run in the penultimate over.
Ashmina Karmacharya on a hattrick!!
UAE Women 80/9 in 19.3 overs pic.twitter.com/0V6NwnUhDA— cricnepal.com 🇳🇵 🦏 (@cricnepal) June 24, 2022
Last over to go, UAE had 78 runs on the board with 3 wickets in hand, Ashmina bowled fiercely to take back-to-back wickets of Viashnave Mahesh (16) and Indhuja Nandakumar (0) and was on a hattrick. The Wicket-keeper missed the catch and it was not sure whether the batter had nicked it or not.
In the next ball 1(19.5 ov), Ashmina produced another scalp, her fifth, to rattle the UAE innings to their lowest total in the tournament.
The favorites' UAE Women are finally bowled out in this tournament. What a day for Nepal Women, who restricted them for a mere 81 runs in 19.5 overs. Ashmina takes 5/10 and Indu Barma grabbed 3 wickets.#ACC #NEPWvUAEW pic.twitter.com/ynq8U1NkvQ
— cricnepal.com 🇳🇵 🦏 (@cricnepal) June 24, 2022
Rubina Chhetri was economical with her four overs, giving away 12 runs.
