UAE extends their winning run stopping Nepal while Thailand down Kuwait in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2024

Ajman. UAE extended their winning streak with a hard-fought 13-run victory over Nepal, while Thailand secured a 20-run win over Kuwait on the third day of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2024 at the Seven District Sports Club in Ajman, UAE.

UAE recorded their third consecutive win stopping Nepal by 13 runs. Rinitha Rajith, who had previously impressed with an unbeaten 54 in UAE’s 74-run win over Thailand, emerged as the match-winner once again, top-scoring with 48 runs off 33 balls. Her innings, featuring five boundaries and two sixes, helped UAE post a total of 122 for 7 in 20 overs. Nepal's response was led by captain Puja Mahato, whose determined 48 off 43 balls, with five boundaries, ultimately went in vain.

Thailand also achieved a thrilling 20-run victory over Kuwait after scoring 128 for 7, with Nattharika Thokoi contributing a top score of 38. Kuwait’s skipper Zeefa Jilani played a valiant unbeaten knock of 73 off 49 balls, including seven boundaries and four sixes, but her effort wasn’t enough to secure a win.

Rinitha Rajith shines with another match-winning knock

After winning the toss, UAE opted to bat first but faced an early setback when opener Emily Thomas was dismissed for a duck in the first over, trapped leg-before by Nepal’s skipper Puja Mahato. Krishma Gurung then took the crucial wicket of UAE captain Samaira Dharnidharka for 8 in the fourth over.

UAE went past the 50 run mark in 7.5 overs through a six from Rinitha Rajith off Manisha Kumari Updhayay. Lavanya Keny and Rajith took the score to 78 in 11 overs when Riya Sharma had Keny caught and bowled for 20. In the same over, Mehak Thakur was run out for a duck. Seema K C ended Rajith’s knock when she was two short of her half century by having her stumped by wicketkeeper Alisha Kumari Yadav in the 15th over. Indhuja Nandakumar too followed, caught and bowled by Riya Sharma for 12 in the next over.

Rishitha Rajith and Al Maseera Jahangir then steered UAE past the 100 run mark. At the score on 107, Riya Sharma picked her third wicket by removing Jahangir for 6. Avanee Sunil Patil and Rishitha remained unbeaten on nine runs each to ensure a challenging total of 122 for 7 in 20 overs.

Nepal skipper Puja Mahato’s fighting knock in vain

UAE's Indhuja Nandakumar opened with a maiden over, followed by a tight spell from Keny. In the fourth over, Keny trapped Sabitri Dhami leg-before for 6, leaving Nepal at 18 for 1 by the end of the powerplay.

Mehak Thakur claimed opener Sana Praveen in the 10th over for 19, and Nepal required 83 more runs from the last 10 overs. Captain Mahato fought back, leading the score to 75 for 2 by the 15th over, but Nepal still needed 48 from the final five overs.

Mahato received good support from Sony Pakhrin, but when Pakhrin was run out for 19 through a quick fielding combination by Patil and wicketkeeper Thomas, the pressure on Nepal increased. Jyotsnika Marasini joined Mahato and by then pressure mounted with 34 runs needed off the last three overs. Skipper Dharnidharka introduced herself and yielded nine runs.

In the 19th over, Nandakumar struck with the fourth ball picking the prize wicket of Mahato, caught behind by wicketkeeper Thomas for a fighting 48 runs. With 18 runs needed off the last over, Dharnidharka gave away just four runs to ensure her team’s win.

Nattharika Thokoi’s knock sets up Thailand’s win

After winning the toss, Thailand elected to bat and started strong, with openers Yanathip Takunsi and captain Aphisara Suwanchonrathi posting 31 in the first 4.5 overs. Ayesha Iqbal Pewekar then struck, clean bowling Suwanchonrathi for 11 and Takunsi for 16. Thokoi led the scoring with 38 off 41 balls, including three boundaries, steering Thailand to 99 by the 15th over before being run out.

Pewekar dismissed Sunisa Bongkodphongampai for a duck, while Phuengkho’s 17 was ended by a clean bowl from Raelyn Maria D’Souza. In the last over, Kuwait skipper Zeefa Jilani dismissed two batters, including Phatthanan Phinkaeo for 12, to wrap up Thailand’s innings at 128 for 7.

Kuwait skipper Zeefa Jilani’s stupendous unbeaten knock

Jilani then opened the innings with Eshanvi Mohan Singh to get off to a sedate start. Kuwait could muster only 13 runs from the powerplay. To make it tougher, Charukan Saema bowled a maiden seventh over to swell Kuwait required run rate to 8.92.

Thailand then began to take a firm grip on the match by strangling the run flow. At the half way mark Kuwait could post only 31 runs though they did not lose any wicket. With every over from there on, Thailand looked like moving towards an easy victory as the Kuwait openers struggled for runs. At the score on 45 in 12.3 overs, Singh got out bowled by Thokoi for 15.

Ayesha Iqbal Pewekar joined Jilani and Kuwait crawled to the 50 run mark in 15.1 overs. Charukan Saema speeded up Thailand’s victory by clean bowling Pewekar for a duck and trapping Raelyn Maria D Souza leg before with the next delivery. Jilani hit Sunisa Bongkodphongampai for a six. She also hit Thokoi for another six and a boundary in the 17th over to reach her half century in 41 balls.

Koranit Suwanchonrathi clean bowled Candice Dias for 4. With 46 runs needed off the last two overs, Jilani hit Thokoi for her third six. In the last over too she hit Koranit Suwanchonrathi for her fourth six and also hit two more boundaries to reduce the margin of defeat and remain unconquered on 73.

**Brief scores:**UAE bt Nepal by 13 runs. UAE 122 for 7 in 20 overs (Lavanya Keny 20, Rinitha Rajith 48, Riya Sharma 3 for 15) Nepal 109 for 5 in 20 overs (Sana Praveen 19, Puja Mahato 48, Sony Pakhrin 19)
Player of the Match: Rinitha Rajith

Thailand bt Kuwait by 20 runs. Thailand 128 for 7 in 20 overs (Nattharika Thokoi 38, Arrikan Phuengkho 17, Zeefa Jilani 2 for 20, Ayesha Iqbal Pewekar 3 for 15) Kuwait 108 for 4 in 20 overs (Zeefa Jilani 73n.o, Charukan Saema 2 for 16).
Player of the Match: Zeefa Jilani