Nepal and UAE dominate with back-to-back wins in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 Asia Qualifier 2024

Ajman. Nepal and UAE recorded their second consecutive victories on the second day of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2024 at the Seven District Sports Club in Ajman, UAE.

Nepal dominated Kuwait, bowling them out for a mere 22 runs in 13 overs after setting a target of 130 for 8 in 20 overs. Nepal’s bowlers were highly effective, clean bowling four batters and running out three others, securing a 108-run victory.

In the second match, UAE showcased their all-round strength, beating Thailand by 74 runs. UAE posted a strong total of 155 for 2 in 20 overs, with Rinitha Rajith scoring an unbeaten 54 off 28 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes, and Emily Thomas contributing 41 off 46 balls with five boundaries. Thailand was bowled out for 81 runs.

Nepal skipper Puja Mahato leads from the front again

Nepal won the toss and elected to bat. In the fourth over, opener Sabitri Dhami was run out by Ayesha Iqbal Pewekar for 6. Pewekar then clean bowled Sana Praveen, who had settled in well and scored 25 runs with five boundaries off 18 balls. Nepal crossed the 50-run mark in the ninth over.

In the tenth over, Nepal lost their third wicket at 56 when Sony Pakhrin was stumped by wicketkeeper Eshanvi Mohan Singh off Ameesha Ram Olacheri for 6. Puja Mahato and Jyotsnika Marasini took 12 runs off the 11th over from Ziniya Afroz, with Mahato hitting Olacheri for two consecutive boundaries. By the 16th over, Nepal had crossed the 100-run mark.

The 47-run partnership between Mahato and Marasini ended when Pewekar dismissed Marasini for 23. In the same over, Mahato, who top scored with 34 runs, got run out. Her knock off 38 balls had four boundaries.

In the final over, Seema KC was caught and bowled by Jilani for 4, Rachanna Kumari Chaudhary was run out for a duck, and Alisha Kumari Yadav was also run out for 15, leaving Nepal with a challenging total of 130 for 8 in 20 overs.

Kuwait’s chase started disastrously, with opener Pewekar getting run out for 2 in the second over. One-drop batter Candice Dias fell in the same over to Krishma Gurung for a duck. More wickets fell as Mahato trapped Raelyn Maria D’Souza lbw for a duck, and Eshanvi Mohan Singh was run out for another duck.

Kuwait’s score was 16 for 5 in 5.1 overs when opener and captain Zeefa Jilani, on 12, fell to Manisha Kumari Upadhayay, who delivered a wicket-maiden. Olacheri was run out for a duck, making her the third player to be dismissed without scoring. Rachanna Kumari Chaudhary, who bowled the ninth over, clean bowled Ziniya Afroz for 1 and Pearl Serena Simon for a duck.

Kuwait’s innings concluded in the 13th over, with Seema KC clean bowling Swatiba Kuldeepsinh Parmar for 1 and Khadija Jahir Hussain for a duck.

Rinitha Rajith’s breezy half-century propels UAE

In the second match, UAE won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Lavanya Keny and Emily Thomas provided a steady start, putting up 50 runs in 8.3 overs. At the score on 62 in the 11th over, Keny was clean bowled by Kesinee Kaewjumphol for 22 off 30 balls, which included three boundaries.

Rinitha Rajith then joined Thomas. Kaewjumphol also dismissed Thomas when she was nine runs short of her half-century. Rajith helped UAE reach the 100-run mark with a six off Kaewjumphol.

UAE captain Samaira Dharnidharka hit boundaries off Sunisa Bongkodphongampai and Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, while Rajith struck her second six off Suwanchonrathi. Rajith reached her half-century in 27 balls with her third six, helping UAE cross the 150-run mark.

Thailand, facing a target of 153, lost opener Yanathip Takunsi, who was clean bowled by Dharnidharka for 3 in the second over. Nattharika Thokoi and Aphisara Suwanchonrathi fought hard, taking the score to 45 in nine overs. Keny struck to dismiss Suwanchonrathi for 24. At the halfway mark, Thailand required another 106 runs.

Thokoi, who kept the runs coming, was dismissed by Al Maseera Jahangir for 19. Jahangir then clean bowled Chanoknan Phanao with the next ball. When Avanee Sunil Patil had Phichamon Darajaroen caught behind by wicketkeeper Thomas for a duck, Thailand was reduced to 60 for 5 in 12.4 overs.

UAE tightened their grip on the match as Dharnidharka ran out Arrikan Phuengkho for 10. Mehak Thakur accelerated UAE’s victory with a double strike in the 15th over, dismissing Sunisa Bongkodphongampai for 3 and clean bowling Charukan Saema for a duck. Koranit Suwanchonrathi was run out in the 19th over for 5, while Dharnidharka clean bowled Kewarin Saechao with the final ball of the match for 7.

Brief scores:

Nepal bt Kuwait by 108 runs. Nepal 130 for 8 in 20 overs (Sana Praveen 25, Puja Mahato 34, Jyotsnika Marasini 23, Ayesha Iqbal Pewekar 2 for 12) Kuwait 22 in 13 overs (Zeefa Jilani 12, Rachanna Kumari Chaudhary 2 for 1, Seema KC 2 for 0) Player of the match: Puja Mahato

UAE bt Thailand by 74 runs. UAE 155 for 2 in 20 overs (Lavanya Keny 22, Emily Thomas 41, Rinitha Rajith 54n.o, Samaira Dharnidharka 21n.o, Kesinee Kaewjumphol 2 for 24) Thailand 81 in 20 overs (: Aphisara Suwanchonrathi 24, Nattharika Thokoi 19, Samaira Dharnidharka 2 f0r 12, Al Maseera Jahangir 2 for 12, Mehak Thakur 2 for 7)
Player of the Match: Rinitha Rajith