Cricket
Nepal crash out of U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup
Nepal lose against Australia by 83 runs in their final group match to suffer their third consecutive defeat of the tournament.
Post Report
Nepal failed to secure a spot in the Super Six stage of the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup after they lost their final Group D match to Australia by 83 runs at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi, Malaysia on Wednesday.
Nepal needed a win to stand any chance of progressing after losing their previous group matches against Bangladesh (by five wickets) and Scotland (by a narrow one wicket).
But their batting faltered once again and could only manage 56-8 from their 20 overs in response to Australia’s formidable total of 139-6.
Nepal lacked innings momentum, partnership and resilience, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Skipper Puja Mahato’s painstaking 18 off 42 balls was the only double digit score in another lacklustre batting display.
Lily Bassingthwaighte led the Australia bowling attack with an outstanding match figures of 2-4 from three overs. Juliette Morton and Hasrat Gill also claimed two wickets for Australia, while Chloe Ainsworth accounted for one.
Nepali batters Sabitri Dhami (7), Sana Praveen (8), Jyotsnika Marasini (0), Seemana KC (6), Tirsana Bishwokarma (1), Alisha Yadav (9) and Krishma Gurung (0) were all out cheaply.
Earlier, Nepal had started brightly after being sent to field first.
Captain Mahato led from the front with three early strikes, removing Ines Mckeon (8), Kate Pelle (3) and captain Lucy Hamilton (0).
But Australia’s middle order rallied, with Caoimhe Bray anchoring the innings with 45 off 34 balls. Bray also shared a 72-run stand with Eleanor Larosa (31 off 39).
Riya Sharma eventually dismissed Bray in the 13th over, and Seemana KC struck with two wickets in the 18th over to remove Larosa and Ella Briscoe (0).
But Gill’s unbeaten 30 off 21 and Chloe Ainsworth’s 16 not out off nine deliveries propelled Australia to a commanding total of 139-6.
Australia progressed to the Super Six with an unblemished record, securing all six points from three matches.
Bangladesh joined Australia in the next stage as group runners-up after defeating Scotland by 18 runs in their final group game.
Scotland also progressed.
Nepal will now meet the fourth-placed team of Group A in the 13th to 16th place playoffs on Friday.
England, the United States and Ireland advanced into Super Six from Group B, while Group C saw South Africa, Nigeria and New Zealand progress.
The Super Six consists of two groups of six teams, with each team carrying over their points picked up against other qualifying teams. The top two teams in each Super Six pool will advance into the semi-finals, with the final scheduled for February 2.
Nepal will now prepare for the next edition of the World Cup in 2027 as they have already qualified as co-hosts along with Bangladesh.