Nepal has advanced to the semi-finals of the ACC U-19 Women’s Asia Cup Cricket being held in Malaysia.
On Monday, Nepal defeated Pakistan by six wickets in their first group-stage match. With Pakistan suffering their second consecutive loss and being eliminated, Nepal secured a semi-final berth with one match to spare.
Nepal will face India in their second group match on Tuesday. Pakistan had previously lost to India in their opening match.
Chasing a target of 105 runs, Nepal achieved the total in 19 overs with the loss of four wickets. Captain Puja Mahato led the charge with a brilliant knock of 47 runs off 47 balls, including four boundaries.
For Pakistan, Fatima Khan and Quratulain each took one wicket.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, scoring 104/5 in their 20 overs. Komal Khan was the top scorer for Pakistan with 38 runs.
In bowling, Nepal’s captain Puja Mahato claimed two wickets, while Rachana Chaudhary, Riya Sharma, and Simana KC took one wicket each.
Nepal is competing from Group B in the inaugural edition of the U-19 Women’s Asia Cup. Group A consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. Nepal earned their spot in the Asia Cup after qualifying for the U-19 Women’s World Cup.
The U-19 Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place in January 2025 in Malaysia, where Nepal is placed in Group D alongside Australia, Bangladesh, and Scotland.
