Kathmandu – Nepal defeated Thailand by 6 wickets to lift the title of ACC U-19 Women’s Championship for the third consecutive time on Friday at KOC Hubara, Kuwait.
Winning the toss, Nepal opted to field first. Rubina Chhetri took the crucial three wickets and Sangeeta Gauchan grabbed two wickets as Nepal bundled Thailand to a low total of 74 runs in 23.4 overs.
Thailand had a slow start as Sonu Khadka started the first over conceding only 2 runs. Rubina Chhetri bowled Sainammin Saenya in the first ball of the second over.
Srintra Saengsakaorat went for run out in fourth over to make Thailand struggle in 11 for 2. Santoshi Kumari Chaudhary could not continue with her bowling as she was warned for her wrong bowling action.
Nepal had no tight fielding though, they missed a couple of run outs and a couple of drops. Skipper Nattakan Chantam was dropped off the maiden over from Indu Verma. Nepal had three maidens in between from 7th to 9th over. Nattakan who looked good with her bat, played some good shots for Thailand, including two fours of the Saraswati’s tenth over. Nattakan(22) could not go on with her bat though and the partnership of 24 runs came to an end as she was bowled by Sangeeta Gauchan in 12th over.
Chanida Sutthiruang went for a run out in 3rd ball of 17th over as Thailand were at 58 for 4. The wickets then started falling for Thailand. Phira-on Khamla went for a run out scoring 13 runs. Wongpaka Liengprasert was bowled by Sangeeta in 18th over. Rubina again bowled Sureeporn Laomi for 7 runs to make Thailand struggle at 69 for 7.
It was not enough though, Mamta Chaudhary took the wicket of Suthida Chaichana in 23rd over. Arreeya Priyakhunakorn went for a run out in 24th over and Rubina again struck a last wicket in 24th over as Nepal received the low target of 75 runs.
Nepal too had a bad start as Anuradha Chaudahry(0) had to depart for lbw in 5th ball of the inning. Dropati Kunwar(0) then joined Anuradha in the pavillion as she was bowled in the second over with Nepal struggling at 0 for 2. Kavita Gautam went out in 7th over leaving the partnership of 19 runs. Indu Verma then was caught in 8th over putting Nepal to 19 for 4.
Mamta Chaudhary and Rubina Chhetri accelerated the innings for Nepal then. Chaudhary(21*) and Chhetri(24*) then put up a big partnership of 56 runs to guide Nepal to victory with four overs to spare.
Rubina Chhetri was adjudged as the player of the final match. She also got the award for player of the tournament. Dechen Wangmo from Bhutan was adjudged as batter of the tournament. Bowler of the Tournment was awarded to Suleeporn Laomi from Thailand.
