Defending champions Nepal inched closer to the defense of their ACC U-19 Women´s Championship title on Monday defeating UAE by 81 runs in the semifinal hed in Yorker in Singapore.
Nary Thapa once again played a captain´s knock, winning her third player-of-the-match award for her record-breaking innings that helped Nepal reach 156/3 in 25 overs. UAE, who were penalized an over due to slow over rate, could only manage 75/7 in 24 overs.
Thapa scored 66 off 59 balls with nine fours and a six – the highest individual score by a Nepali woman cricketer. She broke the highest individual score record set by Manisha Rawal (62) last Thursday against Singapore.
Nepal also achieved their biggest victory in international cricket on Monday in terms of run margin, surpassing their 70-run win against Singapore.
Likewise, Thapa added 106 runs for the third wicket with Sarita Magar to set the highest partnership record for any wicket by Nepali women in international cricket. The previous best was the 104-run partnership set by Nary and Mamta Thapa for the fifth wicket against Hong Kong on Oct 4.
Thapa and Magar rescued Nepal from a tottering position at 19/2. Magar scored an unbeaten 34 and Sonu Khadka was not out on 9. Manisha Rawal (12) also contributed to the total. Humaira Tasneem and Petule Nadar claimed one wicket each of Nepal.
Thapa who starred in all five matches played by Nepal, however, did not seem satisfied with her performance. “Though I have played, I have not garnered sufficient runs. I will try to perform much better than this in the final,” she said.
Thapa claimed two UAE wickets in the second innings leading the bowling attack along with Sonu (2/15). Rubina Chhetri got a wicket.
For UAE, skipper Dipanki Barcar topscored with 23 and Aashma remained unbeaten on 21. Sambhavi Gupta (10) was the only other player to reach double figures.
Nepal will now take on Bhutan in the final on Tuesday. Bhutan defeated Hong Kong by seven wickets in another semifinal match to continue with their winning streak in the tournament.
Thapa stressed on the need to play much better in the final. “Bhutan have remained unbeaten on their way to the final. They are good in fielding as well. Each of us should put up a 100 percent performance,” Thapa said.
Nepal´s coach Samson Jung Thapa expressed satisfaction with the team´s performance and added that the team´s strategy in the final would be to collect more and more runs.
“If we get to bat first, we will try to get as many runs as possible. We must put more effort in the final,” said coach Thapa who is not in the mood to change any player in the final.