Nepali girls defended the ACC U-19 Women’s Championship title defeating Bhutan by five wickets at the Indian Association Ground, Singapore.
Bhutan were restricted to 53/6 in rain-reduced 20-over-a-side match. Nepal reached the target in 17.2 overs losing five wickets and Sarita Magar standing firm scoring unbeaten 23.
Coming into the finals, the two Himalayan neighbors had been unbeaten and the content was set to be the most fierce one.
Very tight bowling led by Rubina Chhetri, who grabbed 3/15, made runs premium and Bhutan lost their top batswomen one-by-one without contributing much to the total.
Captain Nary Thapa (1/7), Geeta Chudal (0/3 in 3 overs), Sarita Magar (1/6 in 2 overs) and Shraddha Aryal (1/7 in 3 overs) made it difficult for Bhutanese women to score on overcast condition.
The Bhutanese innings concluded at 53/6 – a total that should have been easily achived by Nepal. But Bhutan played with enthusiam and made Nepal toil hard giving a few scare.
Opener Sita Rana was run out trying for a second run and ending on the same end with Manisha Rawal – the score being 1/1.
Nary was out after two brilliant shots – one for six and one for four – in seven balls and Nepal was 15/2 in third over. Manisha went soon, making it 21/3 in five overs.
Sarita stood firm however despite losses on the other end – Mamta Thapa (7) and Trishna Singh (4). Mamta and Sarita partnered 19 runs and eased pressure out of the team and eventually, it was merely a formality for Nepal to finish the match.
Sarita won the player of the final award and Nary was awarded the best batswoman of the event.