Big hand for Nepal spinner as Tornadoes beat Sapphires at FairBreak Invitational

Sita Rana follows in footsteps of Virat Kohli with celebration following key wicket at Dubai International Stadium on Thursday

Tornadoes bowler Sita Rana celebrates taking the wicket of South Coast Sapphires' Gaby Lewis at the FairBreak Invitational in Dubai on Thursday, May 5, 2022. All images by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Tornadoes' Sterre Kalis bats on her way to 32 during the game at Dubai International Stadium. The Tornadoes won by 17 runs.

Tornadoes' Natasha Miles is run out for two against the Sapphires.

Tornadoes' Natasha Miles after being run out in Dubai.

Tornadoes bowler Sita Rana, right, after taking the wicket of Sapphires's Gaby Lewis for 22.

Sapphires' Kim Garth against the Tornadoes in the FairBreak Invitational.

Tornadoes captain Stafanie Taylor after being caught by Sapphires' Shabnim Ismail, bowled Geetika Kodali, for 19.

Sapphires bowler Geetika Kodali celebeates after claiming the wicket of Tornadoes' Sterre Kalis.

Sapphires' Gaby Lewis bats during the game in Dubai.

Tornadoes batter Sophie Devine is bowled by Sapphires' Shabnim Ismail for 10.

Sapphires bowler Tash Farrant during the game.

Tornadoes batter Diana Baig is bowled by Sapphires' Shabnim Ismail for a duck.

Tornadoes bowler Diana Baig celebrates after claiming the wicket of Sapphires's Tash Farrant for 11.

Sapphires' Maryam Omar in the field during the FairBreak Invitational match against the Tornadoes.

The FairBreak Invitational was given its most vibrant moment yet when Sita Rana, a police officer from Nepal, picked up a wicket that proved key to Tornadoes beating South Coast Sapphires.

The left-arm spinner trapped Gaby Lewis, the Sapphires opener, plumb in front. The umpire upheld her appeal, and she peeled away to celebrate while making a distinctive hand gesture underneath her beaming face.

The move, inspired by an Indian movie called Pushpa: The Rise, has previously been used by no less luminary than Virat Kohli on the cricket field. According to Sita, it means: “It means I will stay high.”

For emerging cricketers like her, that have arrived at the new T20 franchise tournament to play alongside some of the best known players in the women’s game, it is an apt mission.

Judging by Sita’s performance in Tornadoes 17-run win at Dubai International Stadium, she is in no mood to shrink among the illustrious company.

She ended her euphoric turn by jumping into a delighted embrace with Sophie Devine. The New Zealander is one of the leading batters in the world game, and a role model to Sita.

“Since I first met her, she has been helping me, not just me but all the junior players,” Sita said. “I don’t feel like they are strangers. It feels like they are my mates.”

Sita is from Nepalgunj, and works in the Armed Police Force, a job she got on the strength of her cricket.

Her role model in the game is Gyanendra Malla, the former captain of the Nepal men’s side, who played a series on the same ground in March.

“I never thought I would be able to play in a big stadium like this,” Sita said. “When I was watching their matches I was so excited to play here. To be very honest, I never dreamt I’d have the chance to play with players like this.

“Now, to be sharing the same dressing room with them is unbelievable for me. These players are so good, but they don’t treat us like juniors. They treat us like teammates.”

Defeat ruined the return from retirement of Sana Mir. The former Pakistan captain is returning after two years out of the sport, which she spent largely forging a new career in commentary.

She sent down just one over of off-spin herself, then made 18 at the end of Sapphires’ faltering run chase.

“We are going to come back with a bang,” Mir said of her side, who made 102 for eight chasing 120 to win.

“There were more positives than negatives in this game for us. There are small things we will all learn along the way.”