UAE and Nepal score emphatic victories in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier opener

Lavanya Keny’s allround performance helped UAE record an emphatic 106 runs win over Kuwait in the opening match of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2024 at the Seven District Sports Club in Ajman. In the second match, Nepal registered an easy 67 runs win through skipper Puja Mahato’s alllround display and Rachanna Kumari Chaudhary’s four wicket spell.

Unbeaten half centuries from Keny and UAE skipper Samaira Dharnidharka

UAE posted 143 for 1 in 20 overs through unbeaten half centuries from Keny and her skipper Samaira Dharnidharka. Keny remained unbeaten on 77 off 57 balls studded with 10 boundaries while Dharnidharka hit an unbeaten 58 off 57 balls with six boundaries. Keny, who is also the UAE’s vice-captain and an off spinner, bagged two wickets for five runs to bowl out Kuwait for 37 runs in 15.2 overs

UAE, after electing to bat first, saw Kuwait skipper Zeefa Jilani strike with the third ball of the second over by having UAE opener Emily Thomas caught and bowled for 4. That brought in Dharnidharka to the crease, and together with opener Keny, they scored at a brisk pace. Ameesh Olacheri wavered in length and the UAE pair scored 14 runs off the sixth over. UAE went past the 50 run mark in the ninth over with Keny scoring two consecutive boundaries off Olacheri.

Keny raced to her half century in 37 balls through a boundary off Jilani in the 12th over. UAE reached the 100 run mark in the 13th over. Dharnidharka too reached her half century in 50 balls through a boundary off Ziniya Afroz. Keny scored her tenth boundary of her innings off the first ball of the 19thover from Candice Das. Jilani who bowled the last over gave away only three runs.

Kuwait’s chase began on a bad note with opener Eshanvi Mohan Singh getting run out for 4 in the third over. In the fourth over, Jilani too fell caught by Dharnidharka off Indhuja Nandkumar for 9. Keny then went on to clean bowl Candice Dias for 1 with the first ball of the fifth over.

Al Maseera Jahangir, who bowled the ninth over, struck twice to remove Ayesha Iqbal for 5 and Olacheri for a duck. Half the Kuwait side was out for 24 in 8.5 overs. Avanee Sunil Patil speeded up UAE’s win by getting Raelyn Maria D’s Souza stumped by wicketkeeper Emily Thomas for 1 in the 10th over. Mehak Thakur struck twice in the 13th over. Keny picked her second wicket to dismiss Khadija Jaffar Hussain for a duck to ensure UAE a big win.

Nepal’s Rachanna Kumari Chaudhary wrecks Thailand

In the second match, Thailand won the toss and elected to field. Nepal lost their opener Kewarin Saechao to the fourth ball of the first over, getting run out for 5. In the fourth over Sunisa Bongkodphongampai trapped Sabitri Dhami leg before for 7. Nepal skipper Puja Mahato and Sony Pakhrin kept the score board moving. By the half way mark Nepal scored 44 for 2.

Mahato hit Kesinee Kaewjumphol for a six and accelerated the run flow. At the score on 71 in the 15thover, Charukan Saema ended the 52 runs partnership dismissing Pakhrin for 19. Saema also clean bowled Mahato in the same over for 35. Her knock off 40 balls had three boundaries and a six.

Thailand strangled the run flow with Nattharika Thokoi giving away only three runs in the 16th over. In the 17th over, Jyotsnika Marasini got run out for 4. Though Alisha Kumari Yadav too got run out off the last ball of the innings, Nepal crossed the 100 run mark through Seema KC’s run –a – ball unbeaten 19 runs.

Thailand’s run chase began on an interesting note with Mahato bowling a maiden first over. In the third over Mahato clean bowled Arrikan Phuengkho for 3. Meanwhile, Krishma Gurung also clean bowled Yanathip Takunsi for 1. Pressure mounted on Thailand when Mahato also clean bowled Nattharika Thokoi for 6 in the fifth over.

Skipper Aphisara Suwanchonrathi kept the score board moving by reaching double figures. Rachanna Kumari Chaudhary clean bowled for 13 with the first ball of the ninth over and also clean bowled Phichamon Darajaroen with the next delivery. With the fifth ball Chaudhary also had Koranit Suwanchonrathi caught for 2. At the half way mark Thailand were tottering at 27 for 7, when Manisha Kumari Updhayay clean bowled Charukan Saema for a duck.

Thailand got bowled out for 35 in 11.4 overs with with Riya Sharma clean bowling the last two batters for a duck.

Brief scores:

UAE beat Kuwait by 106 runs. UAE 143 for 1 in 20 overs (Lavanya Keny 77n.0, Samaira Dharnidharka 58n.o) Kuwait 37 in 15.2 overs (Lavanya Keny 2 for 5, Al Maseera Jahangir 2 for 3, Mehak Thakur 2 for 2)
Player of the Match: Lavanya Keny
Points: UAE 2. Kuwait 0.

Nepal beat Thailand by 67 runs. Nepal 102 for 6 in 20 overs (Puja Mahato 35, Sony Pakhrin 19, Seema KC 19n.o, Charukan Saema 2 for 20) Thailand 35 in 11.4 overs (Puja Mahato 2 for 3, Rachanna Kumari Chaudhary 4 for 10, Riya Sharma 2 for 0)
Player of the Match: Puja Mahato
Points: Nepal 2. Thailand 0.