Nepal play Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Super Four

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 18: Nepal and India shared points as the sixth match of the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup at Bayuemas Cricket Oval, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was affected by rain on Tuesday. It was the final group-stage match between six teams divided into groups of three each.

After sharing the points, Nepal and India, from Group A, also progressed to the Super 4 stage alongside Bangladesh and Sri Lanka from Group B. Pakistan and Malaysia, from Group A and B respectively, are the two teams who did not make it to the Super 4 after losing both group-stage games.

The Nepali youngsters made history by defeating Pakistan, a Full Member of the International Cricket Council, by six wickets on Monday. And the squad, with one change, was facing India, the tournament favourites, on Tuesday in the duo’s final group game.

The India vs Nepal game started around 45 minutes later than the designated time due to rain. The game started with Nepal losing the toss and batting first.

Indian skipper Niki Prasad said that the team decided to field first to utilise the condition for bowlers during the toss. Nepal’s skipper Puja Mahato, on the other hand, responded that the team was mentally prepared to either bowl or bat first, “We will try to play good cricket like we did against Pakistan.”

And Nepali batters put up a good fight against a better-trained and prepared Indian squad. 

Nepal lost the first wicket in the second over as Sabitri Dhami (3 off 4) was caught along the mid-off region while trying to go over the 30-yard circle taking advantage of the fielding restriction in the first powerplay. 

India was looking confident after taking the first wicket as Niki, after the toss, stated that they planned to restrict Nepal to a low total and chase it quickly to end with a good net run rate.

But it did not go as per the plan as opener Sana Praveen and in-at-three Mahato prevented further fall of wickets and pressurised the bowling line-up of cricket heavyweights India.

Praveen and Mahato did not score much, but they saved the wickets for the team to bat throughout 20 overs. Praveen (9 off 33) and Mahato (25 off 40) departed as the second and third wickets in 10.1 and 14.4 overs after getting run out. 

In the next 32 deliveries, Nepal lost six more wickets adding 34 runs to the total and gave a target of 95. 

Nepal had made one change to the squad against India compared to the one that faced Pakistan. Krishma Gurung was replacing Kusum Godar. Similarly, India had made four changes against Nepal as Bhavika Ahire, Joshitha Vj, Sonam Yadav and Shabnam Md Shakil were replaced by Ishwari Awsare, Drithi Kesari, Anandita Kishor and Nandhana S.

Kishor bagged a wicket against Nepal similar to Mithila V. Parunika Sisodia was the highest wicket-taker with four; she gave only 12 runs in her four-over spell.

India had a higher hand in the chase as their batting line-up was better. Opening duo Gongadi Trisha and G. Kamilini were playing undisturbed until 3.1 overs, but the rain led the umpires to suspend the game. 

Later, as the rain continued, the game was called off and Nepal and India shared points. Into the Super 4, Nepal and India will play a game each against the Top 2 two teams from Group B. Based on the points from two games each, the Top 2 teams from Super 4 will play in the final.

Thus, Nepal is playing Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on December 19 and 20 respectively.