Spectators in Nepal today for the Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier certainly got their money's worth today as three of the four matches were decided in the last over of the game.
The closest game was between Thailand and Zimbabwe at Mulpani, where Thailand were put into bat and scored 115-7 from their 20 overs, Nannapat Koncharoenkai top scoring with 54. In reply, Zimbabwe got themselves into a position where they needed 19 from the last two overs.
Ten runs came from the penulitimate over, leaving nine needed from the last. Runs came from each of the first five balls of the over and left two to get from the last ball. But Nyasha Gwanzura was run out, leaving Zimbabwe an agonising one run short and firmly on the backfoot after two defeats in two games.
Later in the day at Mulpani, Namibia played their first game of the tournament against the USA, and were put into bat. Yasmeen Khan top scored for them with 74 from 47 balls as they scored 144-6 from 20 overs. Lancashire player Tara Norris was the pick of the American bowlers with 3-34.
USA's run chase was led by Blaze player Ella Claridge who scored 70 from 51 balls before being dismissed lbw by Wilka Mwatile in the 19th over of the innings. Tara Norris hit the winning run from the second ball of the final over to secure a four wicket win.
Over at the TUI ground in the afternoon, the Netherlands batted first against Scotland after winning the toss and scored 157-6 from their 20 overs, Sterre Kalis top scoring with an unbeaten 87 from 60 balls. Scotland took their chase to the last over of the match with Katherine Fraser and Kathryn Bryce scoring 41 and 42 respectively, but fell seven runs short on 150-6 after Heather Siegers kept them to just three runs from the over.
Heather Siegers is congratulated by her teammates (ICC)
Earlier in the day at the same venue, Bangladesh were put into bat and scored 168-5 against Papua New Guinea, Shorna Akter top scoring with 37. PNG batted out their overs but were well short, scoring 138-9 and losing by 30 runs.
