Kathmandu: Nepal pulled off a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Bahrain in a rain-affected match of ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup Asia Region Qualifier at Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday.

In the Group ‘C’ match reduced to five-over per side due to wet outfield, openers Samjhana Khadka and Kabita Kunwar made light work of the 42-run target, chasing it in 4.2 overs losing one wicket.

Samjhana remained unbeaten on 13 runs off 10 deliveries and Kabita scored 18 runs off 14. She cracked four hits to boundaries before she got run out on the second ball of the fourth over. Captain Indu Barma contributed not out 7 runs off 5 deliveries. 

Earlier sent to bat first, Bahrain posted  41-1, thanks to an unbeaten 34 runs from captain Deepika Rasangika. Her quickfire knock of 13 balls included six hits to fences and a six. 

Nepal’s Puja Mahato claimed the only wicket bowling out Zayneb Fazil for two runs. Opener Tharanga Gajanayake was not out on three runs. 

Nepal’s first match of the group stage against Hong Kong was abandoned on Friday. The outcome lifts Nepal on top of the standings with three points from two games. Hong Kong have one point from one game while Bahrain are pointless after their first game.  

Nepal will play their next matches against Hong Kong on Tuesday and Bahrain on Thursday. 

The group toppers of all three groups will vie in the Super Three stage. The top two sides of the Super Three stage will secure a place for Global Qualifiers.