Nepal fixed their semifinal clash with 2010 finalists Bhutan in the ACC U-19 Women’s Championship Cricket Tournament on Monday. Nepal defeated Thailand by four wickets in their last league match to top Group A.
Nepal had earlier defeated Thailand by 83 runs during the first edition of the ACC U-19 Women’s Championship at Chiang Mai, Thailand. On Monday, Thailand batting first after winning the toss scored 86 runs for the loss of four wickets in 25 overs.
Sirintra Saengsakaorat was unbeaten on 34 runs off 60 balls with a boundary. Chanida Sutthiruang scored 26 off 44 balls while Sureeporn Laomi scored 11 runs.
Nepal’s skipper Rubina Chhetri, Santoshi Chaudhary and Sangeeta Gauchan grabbed a wicket each.
In chasing the moderate total of 87 runs, Nepal lost six wickets and reached the target in 22.4 overs. Nepal did not start well as they lost the first wicket with 11 runs on board. Opener Shilu Rijal and Anuradha Chaudhary were back on the pavilion with one run each. Nepal were three down by the start of the fourth over with 12 runs on board.
Indu Verma, who was adjudged the player-of-the-match, was not out on 40 runs off 53 balls with three boundaries. Berma shared a 28-run partnership with skipper Chhetri for the fourth wicket. Chhetri was back on the pavilion with her personal 11 runs off 31 balls. With the fall of the skipper, Nepal lost another wicket of Pratiksha Basyal on duck.
Verma was supported by Mamata Chaudhary for the sixth wicket as they shared a 41-run partnership. This was Nepal’s highest partnership in the match. Chaudhary gave away her wickets after scoring 12 runs. Sonu Khadka was not out on two runs.