Kathmandu, November 9 — The Nepal U-19 Women’s team continued their impressive run in the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier with a sweeping 108-run win over Kuwait, marking their second consecutive victory. The match, held at The Sevens Stadium in the UAE, showcased Nepal’s strong all-round performance and kept them on track for qualification.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Nepal set a challenging target of 131 runs in 20 overs, losing eight wickets. Captain Puja Mahato led the scoring with 34 runs off 38 balls, striking four boundaries. Sana Praveen’s quickfire 25 off 18 balls, including five boundaries, further bolstered Nepal’s total, with Jyotsnika Marasini adding 23 runs from 18 balls.
Despite some early dismissals, Nepal capitalized on 16 extras conceded by Kuwait, helping them reach 130 runs. For Kuwait, Ayesha Iqbal Pewekar was the standout bowler, claiming two wickets, while Zeefa Jilani and Ameesha Ram Olacheri picked up one wicket each.
In response, Kuwait struggled against Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for a mere 22 runs in 13 overs. Zeefa Jilani was the top scorer with 12 runs, but no other Kuwaiti batter managed to reach double digits. Nepal’s bowlers put in a collective effort, with Rachana Kumari Chaudhary, Seema KC, captain Puja Mahato, Krishma Gurung, and Manisha Kumari Upadhyay each taking a wicket.
This dominant win follows Nepal’s opening victory over Bhutan, where they set the tone for the tournament with an 83-run triumph. In contrast, Kuwait has faced back-to-back heavy losses, with a 106-run defeat to the UAE earlier this week.
With two consecutive wins, Nepal is now set to face host team UAE in a much-anticipated clash on Saturday. A win would further solidify Nepal’s position at the top of the standings, bringing them closer to qualifying for the U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup set to take place in Malaysia in 2025.
Only the top team from the Asia Qualifier will advance to the global tournament, so Nepal will aim to continue their winning momentum as they eye the coveted World Cup spot.