Nepal begin ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup with a 105-run victory over Qatar
Sabitri Dhami’s batting heroics help Nepal post a 131-run target. In turn, Nepali bowlers bundle out Qatar for 25 runs. Nepali players celebrate after defeating Qatar by 105 runs in their first fixture of the ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup in Malaysia on Saturday. Photo: Courtesy of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN)
Nepal registered a dominating victory over Qatar to begin their ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup campaign on a high note. Nepal defeated Qatar by 105 runs at Bayuemas Cricket Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday.
The tournament features 13 teams, divided into four groups—three of three teams each and one of four teams. Nepal are in Group D with three opponents—Qatar, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Japan, Myanmar and Thailand are in Group A, while the UAE, Oman and Bhutan make up Group B. Hosts Malaysia are in Group C with Kuwait and Indonesia.
Nepal vs Qatar was one of the five matches that took place on the opening day on Saturday. The other winners also registered a dominating victory over their opponents, except for the Hong Kong vs Singapore fixture.
The UAE defeated Oman by 44 runs, and Indonesia won by 29 runs against Kuwait. Both the UAE and Indonesia won by the DLS method.
Similarly, Thailand defeated Myanmar by 121 runs as the latter were bundled out for 24 runs in 18.4 overs.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong registered the victory over Singapore by three wickets as they chased 117 runs in 17.4 overs, with three wickets in hand.
There were four half-centuries on the first day of the tournament. Lavanya Keny, UAE’s opener, stayed not out at 74 off 54 (10 fours and a six) against Oman, and Anushka Tomar, Singapore’s opener, scored 59 off 55 (7 fours).
Thailand’s Aphisara Suwanchonrathi also scored a half-century. She got out after smashing 57 runs off 49 deliveries, which consisted of five fours, against Myanmar.
The other half-century of the day came off the bat of Nepal’s opener Sabitri Dhami.
Dhami’s wagonwheel
Dhami entered the crease with her opening partner Sana Praveen, as Nepal’s skipper Sony Pakhrin decided to bat first after winning the toss.
In turn, Dhami and Praveen built an 80-run partnership for the first wicket, the highest of the day, before Praveen (27 off 32) departed in 10.2 overs.
Dhami sought to build another good partnership with captain Pakhrin. However, the skipper departed for a duck facing three balls.
Dhami, meanwhile, continued scoring. She completed her half-century in 45 deliveries with the help of five boundaries. She tried changing the gear after the half-century, but got bowled by Fatima Mukadam and departed at 52 off 47.
Sabitri Dhami’s wagon wheel against Qatar. Photo: ACC
Dhami’s innings was built more on placement than brute force.
Her wagon wheel, as per the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), showed that 35 of her 52 runs came on the leg side, while 17 were scored on the off side.
She accumulated her runs with 20 singles and six doubles, adding five boundaries without clearing the ropes.
Although she found runs through cover, third man and long off on the off side, she was particularly effective working the ball through the midwicket and long-on regions, keeping the scoreboard ticking throughout her 47-ball stay.
Anjila Pathak (23 off 32) also contributed well with the bat for Nepal, as the team also got 23 runs from extras.
However, despite Dhami’s heroics with the bat, it was bowler Rachana Kumari Chaudhary who was adjudged the player of the match.
Rachana’s 3-2-2-3
Chaudhary is a right-handed batter, but is left-handed with the ball. She did not get to bat, but was extremely effective with the ball.
She was unused by Pakhrin in the powerplay. Her first over came in the eighth.
Chaudhary bowled a dot ball in 7.1 and sent Pavithra Thamarai Selvam back to the dugout with a caught and bowled in 7.2 overs. Mehza Mehwish and Jaza Mariyam managed a single each in the remaining deliveries of the eighth over by Chaudhary.
When Chaudhary returned in the 10th and 12th overs, none of the Qatari batters could manage a single against her, let alone a boundary. She took the wickets of Maria Jacob in 9.5 overs and of Fathima Rana in 11.6 overs to bundle out Qatar for 25 runs.
Overall, Chaudhary bowled three overs, where she gave only two runs, picked three wickets and bowled two maidens.
Riya Sharma also picked three wickets for Nepal while Manisha Upadhayay bagged two and Anu Kadayat took one. The trio was also economical as Sharma gave away only six runs, and Upadhyay and Kadayat gave away seven runs each. The four Nepali bowlers bowled three overs each and gave away 12 runs in extras.
Nepal will play Singapore at YSD UKM Oval in Bangi, Malaysia, in their second group-stage fixture on Sunday morning.
Nayak Paudel covers sports for The Kathmandu Post. He previously worked at the Post (2018–19) and spent over five years at The Rising Nepal. His reporting spans crime, health, education, and social issues.
21.72°C Kathmandu
