Mahato ton guides Nepal U19 to dominating win

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 13: “Firstly, I would like to inform that our skipper Puja Mahato has scored a century in the ongoing match against Kuwait,” said Paras Khadka, former captain of Nepal, when he began his address to a programme of Sudurpaschim Lions in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon.

And while Khadka, currently the secretary of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), continued his address, Mahato kept on scoring more at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai and took the team to a total of 213 runs by the end of the first inning.

“From if we can form a U19 women’s team some years ago to fight for a spot in the World Cup, Nepali women’s cricket has come a long way,” Khadka added. 

Mahato stayed not out at 130 runs, which she scored in only 69 deliveries with 17 fours, alongside vice-captain Sony Pakhrin (43 off 33) as Nepal posted the highest total of the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asian Qualifiers so far. The hosts, the UAE, had earlier posted 211/2 while batting first against Kuwait on November 10; the UAE won the match by 184 runs. 

Moreover, Mahato’s 130 runs did not only mark the first century of the Qualifiers but also the highest individual score in the tourney; she completed her century in 57 balls with 12 fours. The UAE’s Lavanya Keny could have been the first to a century on November 10 but she fell short of a run (99 off 67). 

Nevertheless, Mahato was crucial not only with the bat as Nepal went on to win the fourth match of the tournament by 165 runs. Mahato also bagged a fifer with the ball that led Nepal to bundle out Kuwait for a paltry 48 runs. Mahato also bowled a maiden and gave only eight runs in her four-over spell.

Similarly, Zeefa Jilani, who took one wicket for Kuwait, was also the highest scorer for the team: 36 off 41. Raelyn Maria D Souza was the other wicket-taker for Kuwait.

The two teams, Nepal and UAE, have been the two dominating sides in the Qualifiers between four teams. By Tuesday, Nepal and the UAE played five of the six matches in the Qualifiers; the UAE is in the top with five wins and they are followed by Nepal with four wins. The hosts registered their fifth win by defeating Thailand on Tuesday by nine wickets as they chased the low target of 56 runs by the eighth over. 

The final round of the Qualifiers will be on Wednesday with two encounters: Thailand vs Kuwait and the UAE vs Nepal. While Thailand and Kuwait will fight for not finishing last, Nepal and UAE will be competing for the only spot remaining in the World Cup in 2025 in Malaysia.