Thinley Namgay 

Bhutan B Women won by 10 runs against Bhutan A Women in the opening game of the Women’s T20 National Championship at the Gelephu international cricket ground yesterday.

The national women’s cricket tournament has returned after four years.  The last national tournament women played was in the 2018 Bhutan Cricket Council Board (BCCB) Women’s T20 championship at Pelkhil Oval in Thimphu.

In the game of 20 overs, Bhutan B Women made 76 runs with the fall of all wickets at 19.2 overs. Bhutan A Women could earn only 66 runs when they lost all wickets at 18 overs.  

Player of the match, Tshering Choden of team B contributed 10 runs and took three wickets yesterday. Although team A lost the game, its player Pema Seldon challenged the opponent making 34 runs from 56 balls.

Organised by Bhutan Cricket, the Women’s T20 National Championship is unique. Unlike other tournaments in the country, it features only two teams – Bhutan A Women and Bhutan B Women.

These 29 players in two teams are from all across the country and have featured earlier in the senior and under-19 national teams.

The tournament intends to select senior national team cricketers based on the performances of their five face-offs.   The competition is also to showcase the talents of Bhutanese female cricketers.

Prominent cricketers Anju Gurung is leading team A and Dechen Wangmo is the captain of team B.

Dechen Wangmo said, “We’re glad to win the first match. The tournament is important for all the players because, from 29 players, 18 will be selected for the senior national squad.”

“Players are excited. It’s been years now since we haven’t played tournaments,” Dechen Wangmo said.

“This is the first time Bhutanese women cricketers are playing in the international standard ground within the country,” she said.

Bhutan Cricket’s Chief Executive Officer, Damber S Gurung said the selected players will feature in the upcoming world cup qualifier games in June.