Pakistan sign off with win over Samoa; Mahato brilliance keeps Malaysia winless

Pakistan signed off from the Women's Under-19 World Cup with a win over Samoa as the winless teams from the group stage of the tournament played for ranking spots in Johor on Friday.

The batters did it for Pakistan, though they were helped along by indiscipline on the part of the inexperienced Samoa bowlers, who conceded 21 extras, including 18 wides, after opting to field. The major contributions for Pakistan came from opener Maham Anees, who scored 28 in 42 balls, and Fatima Khan, who hit 25 in 14 balls with three fours and a six from No. 6. Three other batters also got in double-digits as Pakistan stopped at 136 for 8.

For Samoa, Norah Salima, the medium pacer, picked up three wickets and only went at five runs an over, but some of the other bowlers were less effective.

Samoa, who had scored 16 (against South Africa) and 40 (against New Zealand) in their two completed matches earlier, put up an improved show with the bat even though they had lost three wickets by the end of the third over. Haniah Ahmer, who ended with 4 for 17, picked up two of those wickets in the same over.

Indeed, Samoa kept pace with the asking rate for the first half of their innings, but they got to the ten-over mark with five batters gone. But with contributions - none bigger than opener Verra Farane's 19 - from around the batting line-up, they got to 84 before they were bowled out. A little more discipline with the ball, and it could have been much closer.

Nepal, meanwhile, made sure hosts Malaysia's campaign ended as it had gone all along as they eked out a seven-wicket win in the later match in Johor. Captain Puja Mahato was the standout performer for Nepal, first picking up four wickets with her medium pace and then top-scoring in the small chase.

Malaysia, who came into the match after putting up scores of 23, 31 and 59 in the group stage, only managed 45 in 16.5 overs this time after being asked to bat. Nuriman Hidayah was the only batter to get into double-digits as she scored 15 from 23 balls, with Mahato (4 for 9) and left-arm spinner Rachana Chaudhary (3 for 5) doing most of the damage.

The chase was straightforward, and Nepal got there in 11 overs for the loss on three wickets, with Mahato scoring a 32-ball 23 not out. Marsya Qistina Binti Abdullah, the left-arm spinner, picked up all the wickets to fall.