Gautam took three wickets giving away only 11 runs in her 5 overs and scored unbeaten 25 runs off 32 balls to seal the victory.

Nepal elected to field first at the Unity Ground and bowled out Chinafor 61 runs in 23.1 overs. Gautam caught Chinese opener Chen Huiya off Sonu Khadka’s bowling in the first ball of second over. Another Chinese opener Li Yangying (1 run) was run out in the fourth over as Gautam was superb on fielding.

China were 5 for 3 in 4.5 overs as Captain Rubina Chhetri trapped Zhou Caiyun (1 run) LBW. Ying Lili and Zhu Liya tried to anchor the Chinese innings and put up 29 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. However, Santoshi Chaudhary claimed the wicket of Lili (13 runs) and Sangeeta Gauchan bowled Liya when she was batting at 14 runs. Gauchan bowled Liu Jia (3 runs) and Shantoshi Chaudhary trapped Ding XiuXiu run-out.

Gautam took final three wickets to wrap up Chinese innings.

Chasing the small total,Nepalmet the target in 15.2 overs losing just three wickets.Nepallost their first wicket in the fifth over. Shilu Rijal (naught) was first Nepali batswomen to return pavilion. Ying Lili took the wicket of Rijal. Another Nepali opener Anuradha Chaudhary scored 12 runs before she was bowled by Chen Huiya in the second ball of the sixth over.

However, Indu Verma and Gautam played superb knocks to guideNepalto victory. Verma scored 16 runs off 22 balls before being bowled out by off-spinner Ding Xiuxiu.

Gautam remained unbeaten for 25 runs off 32 balls. Gautam hit three boundaries and Verma struck two boundaries.

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Among boys, Nepal won the title 4 times, between 2001 to 2007, and played in ICC U-19 World Cup five times. Come August, Nepal will play in the U-19 World Cup for the sixth time, in Australia. Youth Asia Cup 2001 (late called U-19 ACC championship) was the first ever international title Nepal won, under captaincy of Binod Das.

It was the U-19 team, who started making history among women as well. ACC U-19 championship in 2008 (Thailand) was the first international trophy for Nepali women, in cricket. Two years later, Nepali girls defeated Bhutan to defend the title in Singapore and now Nepal is on a hat-trick of ACC U-19 trophy. If the girls are not able to take the title, Nepal will be without any ACC trophy for the first time in two years.

In past two title wins, Sita Ranamagar, Sarita Magar, Mamata Thapa, Gita Chudal and Trishna Singh were part of the core team, along with captain Nery Thapa. Now these players are not part of the team, due to age barrier. This might add to some pressure to the team. Opening bowler Sonu Khadka will be playing for the third consecutive time. But Coach Nabin Singh says it will not make any difference. He is confident of hat-trick.

“As others have said, this team is better than previous ones. So I see a good possibility of win,” Singh says, “that’s why we have practice matches with the senior players available in Kathmandu. The team is playing well.” He is confident also because his players are generally fit, apart from minor niggles. He feels a lot of allrounders in the team is a ‘plus point’.

Rubina Chhetri, Indu Verma, Shradha Aryal, Arati Bidari were part of the team when Nepal won title in Singapore. Rubina, who took 3 wickets against Bhutan in the final, is leading the team this time around. She is hopeful of the title under her captainship. She says, “If we play according to our potential, this is the best team we have so far. Earlier, the team relied on Nery Thapa’s batting, now we don’t rely on one single player. All bat well, it’s an allround team.”

Nepal is grouped along with China, UAE, Malaysia and Thailand in ‘Group A’, in the championship that will be played in February 3-10. Four years ago, Nepal had defeated Malaysia in first match and the final. Likewise, Nepal had handed defeat to China, by 66 runs, and Thailand, by 83 runs, in the same edition of the tourney.

Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) organized first U-19 national women’s championship and formed the national team thereafter. Janakpur (Region 7), which was formed as a separate region only one and half years earlier, became the champion for the first time. Naturally, many players from the team made it to the national team. Anuradha Chaudhary, Saraswati Chaudhary, Mamata Chaudhary, Santoshi Chaudhary and Kavita Gautam, who are likely to form the core of the team are from Janakpur.

Coach of the Janakpur team, Nabin Singh has become the coach of U-19 women’s team. He looks as nervous as he is excited to lead the national team for the first time. But he rejects it, “If the coach is nervous, what will happen to the players?”

He understands that 25 over matches will be challenging for the girls. But he has faith in his team, as he has players like Rubina, Indu, Mamata, Anuradha, Sonu and Kavita in the ranks.

(Ed: The write-up appeared in Nagarik national daily, on 31st January, 2012)

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According to the provisional fixture published by Asian Cricket Council (ACC), defending champions Nepal faces Malaysia on February 4, UAE on February 5 and Thailand on February 7.

Two-time champions Nepal has been placed in group A.

Despite most of the girls participating in both the victories, including Nary Thapa, have crossed the age bar, the present squad is having many new players, a new coach and a new captain. But, the team is still confident of defending the title.

“Though we have new players in the squad, our bowling is good and the batsmen can bat for full 25 overs,” coach Navin Singh told Republica daily. “We need improvement in fielding as the players have been dropping catches in practice matches.”

Singh guided region no 7 Janakpur for the inaugural National U-19 Women´s Cricket Tournament last month.

Captain Rubina Chhetri, member of the U-19 squad which defended the title last year, said that the current squad is one of the best teams in the U-19. “In the past, our strength was bowling but in this squad our strength is in many departments.”

Chief selector Bijay Kumar Sharma expressed his confidence that the squad will lift the title. “Though the current squad has new players, senior players in the squad are helping new players improve their game.”

Sharma added the squad is somewhat weak in fielding, which may cause trouble for the team. “Due to lack of match experience, players are having trouble in running between the wickets as well.”

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Batting first Bhairahawa scored 66 for 8 wickets in allotted 20 overs. Janakpur needed 14.3 overs to overcome the target in the loss of four wickets.

Bhairahawa batswoman scored slow failing to cope with tight bowling by Janakpur girls. Kabita Gautam claimed Nitu Bhandari in the third over and Bhairahawa remained longing for a watch winning knock.

Pratikshya Bashyal, who was out in the last over, could not get runs as required. Her 52-ball knock for 19 runs was the tale of the Bhairahawa batting, which was also marred by four run-outs.

Indu Berma scored 11 in 12 balls with two fours and Asna Thapa remained unbeaten on 11 off 17 balls as no other batswomen reached double-digit. Janakpur women gave away 17 runs as extras.

Janapur with the trophy. Photo courtesy: CAN

Kabita claimed a couple of wickets while Santoshi Chaudhary and Mamta Chaudhary took a wicket each for Janakpur.

Janakpur openers gave the team a solid start adding 28 runs in 5 overs before Anuradha Chaudhary was out for 14 off 20 balls. She hit a couple of boundaries.

Other opener Shanti Chaudhary scored 9 while Mamta partnered Usha Bhujel for another 28-run partnership taking the team near the victory. Pooja Pandey, the lone wicket taker for Bhairahawa added a little spice to the match claiming two wickets in 14th over when the score was leveled. Usha was out for 17 off 28 balls with three fours and Kabita was out for naught.

Pooja returned with a figure of 4 wickets for 23 runs.

It was disheartening for Bhairahawa, who had played well during the tournament to claim the best batswoman and player of the series titles, to finish second.

Pratikshya Bashyal was adjudged the best batswoman of the tournament for her 93 runs at an average of 46.5 in three matches.

Indu Berma was awarded Player of the Series for her 115 runs off 98 balls in 5 matches at an average of 57.5 and taking 7 wickets in 13.2 overs.

Kathmandu’s Shilu Rijal was awarded best bowler for her 8 wickets in 5 matches. Birgunj’s Manisha Chaulagai was adjudged best wicketkeeper.

Prizes were given away by Tanka Angbuhang, president of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), CAN vice-presidents Tarini Bikram Shah and Sriniwas Rana, CAN General Secretary Ashok Nath Pyakuryal and national coach Pubudu Dassanayake.

Meanwhile, Angbuhang gave Rs. 5000 cash to both winner & runner up teams.

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Puja Bhatta and Dropati Kunwar shared the record partnership but Baitadi lost the match by three runs against Bhairahawa chasing the target of 125 runs.

Bhatta scored 21 runs off 54 balls while Kunwar scored 47 runs off 54 with four boundaries for the record partnership. Bhatta was short to the crease in the fourth ball in the 18th over and Kunwar was also short to the crease in the next over´s fourth ball. After the fall of Bhatta in the 18th over, the other batswomen continued to give away their wickets.

Two of the Baitadi batswomen were out in duck and the other remaining could not cross the double figure margin. Aksha Gurung was the successful bowler for Bhairahawa as she grabbed two wickets. Indu Berma and Prabina Khadka ran out the openers.

Earlier, Bhairahawa had won the toss and scored 124 runs for the loss of three wickets in the allocated 20 overs. Pratikshya Bashyal was unbeaten for 41 runs off 51 balls while Gurung scored 23 runs off 25 balls. Gurung was adjudged the player-of-the-match for her all-round performance. Roshani Chand grabbed two wickets while Puja Bhatta took a wicket.

In the first semifinal, Janakpur defeated Nepalgunj by 20 runs. Winning the toss, Janakpur opted to bat first and scored 92 runs losing all the wickets in 20 overs. Anu KC and Amrita Kasai grabbed three wickets each for Nepalgunj to restrict Janakpur to a moderate total.

Saraswoti Chaudhary scored unbeaten 20 runs off 18 balls to guide the team to victory after the openers failed to give a good start. Kritu Dahal scored 17 runs and became the second batswomen to reach the double figure. Four of the Janakpur batswomen were out on duck while the other failed to reach the double figure margin.

Player-of-the-match Mamata Chaudhary´s three wickets haul helped Janakpur restrict Nepalgunj to just 72 runs for the fall of eight wickets. Manisha Rawal scored 15 runs off 20 balls as opener. Anu KC scored not out 12 runs off nine balls but could not guide the team to victory. Kritu Dahal, Saraswoti Chaudhary and Laxmi Chaudhary grabbed a wicket a piece for Janakpur.

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Baitadi beat Birgunj by 29 runs in the match played at IOE Ground. Baitadi opted to bat first and scored 105 runs losing nine wickets.

Puja Bhatta, who was later adjudged the player-of-the-match, scored 29 runs off 40 balls while Draupadi Kunwar scored 23 off 33 balls. Puja Giri grabbed three wickets while Subhadra Adhikari, Nirmala Pakuwal and Rojina Aryal shared two wickets each.

In reply, Birgunj could manage to score only 76 runs in the allotted 20 overs with the loss of seven wickets. Manisha Chaulagain was the highest scorer with 24 runs off 33 balls. Sonu Khadka, Anjali Chand and Roshani Chand grabbed two wickets each.

In another match played at the TU Cricket Ground, Nepalgunj defeated the host Kathmandu by 51 runs. Batting first, Nepalgunj scored 101 runs losing seven wickets. Player-of-the-match Samana Pun scored 27 runs off 39 balls and also grabbed two wickets. Ashmita Thapa was not out in 19 runs. Shilu Rijal and Shraddha Aryal grabbed three wickets each for Kathmandu.

Chasing the target of 102 runs, Kathmandu could manage to score 50 runs off 15.2 overs. Sangita Gauchan was the highest scorer with 14 runs off 33 balls. Kamala BC grabbed two wickets while Mamata Chaudhary and Samjhana Sharma took a wicket each.

In another match held at the TU Cricket Ground, Bhairahawa outplayed Pokhara by 55 runs. Batting first, Bhairahawa scored 120 losing only one wicket. Pratikshya Basyal was not out in 49 runs off 52 balls while player-of-the-match Indu Barma scored unbeaten quick-fire 27 runs off 15 balls.

In reply, Pokhara could manage to score 65 runs in 18.2 overs. Trishna Devkota scored 12 runs off 35 balls. Soniya Poudel, Pooja Pandey and Indu Berma shared two wickets each.

At the IOE Ground, Janakpur thrashed Biratnagar by six wickets. Player-of-the-match Kabita Gautam grabbed three wickets to restrict Biratnagar for 69 runs off 18.1 overs. Samjhana Budhathoki scored 18 runs for Biratnagar.

Janakpur reached the target in 18 overs losing four wickets. Saraswoti Chaudhary scored unbeaten 18 runs off 12 balls. Sabnam Rai grabbed two wickets for Biratnagar.

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Janakpur also qualified for the semifinal beating Birgunj by 45 runs at the TU Ground.

At IOE, Bhairahawa scored 125 for 9 wickets batting first. Prarikchhya Bashyal topscored with 29 in 42 balls while Indu got quickfire 28 off just 20 balls in a knock that included 5 fours. Ekta Gurung contributed with 14 off 16.

Mamata Chaudhary and Anu KC got three wickets each for Nepalgunj.

In reply, Indu claimed 4 wickets for 17 runs as Nepalgunj were bowled out for 79 in 13.4 overs. Aksha Gurung and Sudha Thapa assisted with 2 wickets each. Samjhana Sharma and Kamala Budathoki topscored for losing side getting 9 runs each.

In earlier match, host Kathmandu beat Pokhara by 78 runs.

Kathmandu's Shilu Rijal during her 4 wicket haul. Photo by Kaushal Adhikari

Batting first, Kathmandu scored 128 for 2 with Sangita Gauchan and captain Shradda Aryal topscoring for the team. Sangita remained unbeaten on 38 off 44 balls while Shradda got 36 off 43 balls. Shilu Rijal con-tributed with 15 runs. All three of them hit 3 fours each. Cristine Tamang scored 13.

For Pokhara Prabha Nepali and Arya Aryal claimed a wicket each.

Player of the match Shilu then grabbed 4 wickets for 10 runs while Karuna Lama grabbed 3 wickets for 7 runs to bowl out Pokhara for 50 runs in 13.4 overs. Sumina Maharjan assisted with 2 wickets and Shradda claimed a wicket.

For Pokhara, Only Prabha scored in double-digit getting 11 off 15 balls.

At TU Ground, Janakpur outplayed Birgunj to move to the semifinals. Batting first, Janakpur scored 120 for 5 wickets with Anuradha Chaudhary and Shanti Chaudhary getting runs for the team. Player of the match Anuradha scored 45 off 50 balls with 6 fours and Shanti got 38 off 41 with four boundaries.

Rojina Aryal claimed 2 wickets for Birgunj. Subhadra Adhikari, Puja Giri and Nirmala Pakuwal each got a wicket.

Birgunj were bowled out for 75 in last over. Preety Thapa (18 off 25 balls) was the top scorer while other notable contributors were Rabina Ghimire (10) and Manisha Chaulagain (9). Laxmi Chaudhary led the bowl-ing with 3 for 15 as Mamata Chaudhary, Kabita Gautam and Anuradha each claimed a wicket.

In another match, Baitadi handed over Biratnagar their second defeat registering a 12-run victory. Batting first, Baitadi scored 95 for 5 wickets with player of the match Dropati Kunwar scoring 44 runs of 60 balls and Manisha Sodari getting 21.

Rubina Chhetri bowled well to claim 4 wickets giving away just 6 runs in 4 overs.

Sabina Shrestha got 35 off 55 balls for Biratnagar but no other batswomen contributed for the total as the team was restricted to 83 for 9 wickets. Chetana Bohara grabbed two wickets while Puja Bhatta, Roshani Chand and Anjali Chand each got a wicket.

On Friday, Birgunj meets Baitadi at IOE Ground and Kathmandu plays Nepalgunj at TU Ground in second matches of the day. The winners of both these matches will qualify to the semifinals.

Early in the morning, Bhairahawa will play Pokhara at TU Ground and Janakpur plays Biratnagar at IOE.

Woman’s U-19 National Cricket Tournament

AT TU GROUND

Janakpur 120/5 (Anuradha 45, Shanti 38, Rojina 2/24) beat Birgunj 75 in 19.5 over (Preety18, Laxmi 3/15) by 45 runs & enters semifinal.

Baitadi 95/5 (Dropati 44, Manisha 21, Rubina 4/6) beat Biratnagar 83/9 (Sabina 35, Chetana 2/16) by 12 runs.

AT IOE GROUND

Bhairahawa 125/9 in 20 overs (Pratikchhya Bashyal 29, Indu Berma 28, Mamata Chaudhary 3w, Anu KC 3w) beat Nepalgunj 79 all out in 13.4 overs (Indu Berma 4/17) by 46 runs and entered the semifinal.

Kathmandu 128/2 (Sangita Gauchan 38*, Shradda Aryal 36*, Shilu Rijal 15) beat Pokhara 50 all out in 13.4 ov (Shilu Rijal 4/10, Karuna Lama 3w) by 78 runs.

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Karuna Bhandari´s five-wicket haul and a hat-trick went in vain as Nepali women cricketers ended their ACC Women´s Twenty20 Championship campaign in the fourth position with a 13-run loss against Thailand in a play-off match for the third place.

Nepal, who had beaten Thailand by 21 runs in the group stage of the same tournament, put up a terrible batting performance.

Thailand won the toss and were all out for 76 runs in 17.5 overs. Chasing the easy target Nepal bundled out for 63 runs in 18.5 overs.

Openers Pundarika Prathanmitr (17) and Sornnarin Tippoch (12) gave a good start to Thailand. However, Karuna Bhandari who bowled 3.5 overs, gave only 12 runs and claimed 5 Thai wickets. Bhandari claimed wickets of Nattaya Boochatham, Narumon Srisuwan and Nantanit Khonchan in the second, third and fourth ball of her third and the innings 16th over to pull a her hat-trick. It was the first hat-trick of the tournament.

Rubina Chhetri and Rashmi Sharma took two wickets each to limit Thailand for 76 runs. Nattakan Chantam (10) and Nattaya Boochatham (15) were the only other Thai batswomen to score in double digits. Six Thai batswomen were out without scoring a single run.

Nepal had an opportunity to claim the consolation win at the KEC Ground, Kuwait, but Nepali women too failed to stay in the crease. Neera Rajopadhyay (12) and Rashmi Sharma (15) were the only Nepali batswomen to score in double digits.

Player of the match Nantanit Khoncham took four wickets for 11 runs and Phira-on Kamla claimed three wickets for 15 runs.

Photo courtesy: Asian Cricket Council

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Nepal bowed out of the ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship after losing their semifinal match against the defending champions Hong Kong by nine wickets. In the last edition of the championship, held in Malaysia in 2009, too, Nepal were thwarted in the semifinals by the same opponent.

Nepal posted 97 runs in complete 20 overs as Hong Kong opted to field after winning the toss. Nepal had a good opening partnership of 46 runs from Neera Rajopadhya and Sita Magar. Magar was bowled in the 12th over when she was on 18 runs off 38 balls.

Nepal lost their second wicket Rajopadhya when it had 59 runs on the score board. Rajopadhya scored 25 runs off 34 balls that included two boundaries. Janaki Bhatta scored 21runs while Rashmi Sharma was not out with 20 runs.

Hong Kong reached the target in 16.5 overs losing one wicket. Neisha Pratt and Connie Wong were not out on 31 and 34 runs respectively.

Rubina Chhetri took the only wicket of Hong Kong in her four-over spell conceding 18 runs. Nary Thapa was the most expensive bowler for Nepal as she gave away 29 runs in her four overs.

Hong Kong will meet China, who defeated Thailand in another semifinal match by 53 runs, in the final. Winning the toss Thailand invited China to bat first. China scored 109 off 20 overs losing six wickets. Huang Zhou was the highest scorer for china with 39 runs while Nattakan Chantham bagged 2 wickets for Thailand conceding 21 runs. Thailand were restricted at just 56 runs losing all nine wickets in 20 overs. Wang Meng took three wickets conceding two runs.

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Malaysia scored 68 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs after they elected to bat first. Nepal knocked off the required runs in 14 overs for a comprehensive victory.

Sita Rana scored unbeaten 21 runs for the victory.

Earlier, player of the match Rubina Chhetri grabbed three wickets and Karuna Bhandari claimed two wickets to restrict Malaysia to a lowly total. E Eliani topscored 33 for Malaysia.

It’s fourth win for Nepal in four league matches. Nepal will now meet the Group A runners-up in the semifinal on February 24 at Hubara.

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