Nepal clinch ACC Under-19 title
After the senior side won the inaugural ACC trophy last year, Nepal's youngsters put in an impressive performance in Thailand - not dropping a single game on their march to the title
Cricinfo staff
24-Dec-2008
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Nepal beat Malaysia in a one-sided match to clinch the ACC women's Under-19 trophy at the Prem Oval. After the senior side won the inaugural ACC trophy last year, Nepal's youngsters put in an impressive performance in Thailand, not dropping a single game on their march to the title.
Malaysia, who had earlier made the highest total of the tournament and beaten favourites Hong Kong to qualify for the final, were bowled out for 45, in a score that included 30 extras. No batsman scored more than 3. Sonu Khakda picked up 3 for 9 while Rekha Rawal, Nepal's highest wicket-taker in the tournament, took 2 for 11 to take her tally to 12. Nepal wrapped up the chase in 11.5 overs with opener Maya Rawat scoring 15 off 18 balls.
Nary Thapa, the Nepal captain who also led the senior side to victory last year, said Nepal had a winning combination of players. "We've been playing a long time and have enough confidence in matches," Thapa was quoted as saying on the ACC website.
Malaysia's coach V Kalidas was pleased with his team's performance as well. "Nepal played well, no doubt about it but I am proud of the way my girls tried with the ball," Kalidas said. "These girls are young enough to keep getting better in future tournaments."
Thailand claimed the No. 3 spot in the team standings for the tournament after beating Hong Kong by four wickets in the play-off at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana. Hong Kong's innings, like Malaysia's, was boosted by 30 extras that took the total to 75. Keenu Gill and Charlotte Chan top scored with 9 each, while Pornthiva Olarakchat and Piraorn Kamla shared six wickets between them. Gill and Chan troubled Thailand during the chase, reducing them to 40 for 5 before Nathakan Chantham and Pimpika Jindakam took them to safety with an unbeaten 33-run partnership.
Singapore's tournament ended in disappointment as they lost to UAE by 17 runs at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana to finish at last place. After their bowlers conceded 49 extras in UAE's total of 96, Singapore's batsmen plodded to 79 in their 25 overs. Captain Priyanjali Jain top scored with 23 to become the team's leading run-scorer in the tournament with 99 runs.