Puja Mahato stars with bat and ball for Nepal
Media release
A starring all-round performance from Puja Mahato set up a seven-wicket victory for Nepal against hosts Malaysia in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025.
Already a full senior international, Mahato took four wickets to help restrict the hosts to 45 all out batting first.
She then proved just as invaluable with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 23 to see her team to a first victory in the tournament.
That secured victory in the 4th Place Play-off, with Pakistan doing likewise earlier in the day in Johor as they beat Samoa by 52 runs.
Nepal miserly with the ball
Having chosen to put Malaysia in to bat, Nepal made the perfect start as Mahato removed Nur Aliya caught and bowled for a duck off the second ball of the innings.
She followed that up by dismissing Husna, trapping her leg before, with Nuni following off the bowling of Rachana Chaudhary to leave the hosts 13 for three in the seventh over.
Chaudhary picked up her second wicket when she had Malaysian skipper Nur Dania Syuhada caught for five, before taking the catch of Suabika for a duck.
The wickets continued to tumble, although Nuriman offered some resistance, hitting a trio of boundaries on her way to top-scoring with 15.
Mahato returned to dismiss Nuriman before adding Nazwah for a duck to finish with figures of four for nine, taking her personal tally for the tournament to nine.
That wrapped up the hosts’ innings on 45 with one ball remaining in the 17th over.
Mahato stands tall to take Nepal home
In reply, Marsya made an early breakthrough, bowling Sana Praveen for one, the first of her three wickets.
Runs proved hard to come by, with Marsya dismissing Sabitri Dhami for three to make it 10 for two.
Jyotsnika Marasini tried to pick up the run-rate with a run-a-ball seven before she was Marsya’s third victim as she finished with figures of three for 18.
Scoring was particularly difficult, but Mahato relieved the pressure with some timely boundaries ensuring that the required rate never got too high.
She and KC Seemana added an unbeaten 25 for the fourth wicket to carry Nepal to victory, Mahato ending on 23 not out.
Pakistan finish with a flourish against Samoa
Earlier in the day, Pakistan picked up their first win of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025, beating Samoa by 52 runs in the first of the 4th Place Playoffs.
Maham Anees and Fatima Khan starred with the bat, the former making 28 to set the platform, before the latter teed off with 25 from just 14 balls.
That helped Pakistan to reach 136 for eight after being put into bat, a total which proved beyond Samoa.
The tournament debutants did manage their best batting performance of the tournament, however, making 84 in reply.
However, Haniah Ahmer ensured they were never really in the hunt for the win, taking four for 17 on her first appearance of the tournament – the fourth best figures in this year’s tournament.
Scores in brief
Pakistan v Samoa – Dato’ Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy (JCA) Oval, Johor
Pakistan 136/8 in 20 overs (Maham Anees 28, Fatima Khan 25; Norah Jade Salima 3/20, Silepa Polataivao 1/13, Katrina Uiese Taa Samu 1/13)
Samoa 84 all out in 18.5 overs (Verra Farane 19, Stella Sagalala 15; Haniah Ahmer 4/17, Quratulain 2/13)
Result – Pakistan won by 52 runs
Malaysia v Nepal – Dato’ Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy (JCA) Oval, Johor
Malaysia 45 all out in 17.5 overs (Nuriman 15; Puja Mahato 4/9, Rachana Chaudhary 3/5)
Nepal 47/3 in 11 overs (Puja Mahato 23 not out; Marsya 3/18)
Result – Nepal won by seven wickets
ENDS