UAE hold nerve in tense finish

UAE bounced back from their defeat to Hong Kong and beat hosts Thailand in a close game at the ACC women's Under-19 tournament at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana. An improved batting performance, led by captain Natasha Cherriath's 21, took UAE to 100 after which 15-year old Samiya Salim reduced Thailand to 64 for 4 in 18 overs. But captain Naruemol Chaiwai's 20-run partnership with Pundarika Prathanmitr kept Thailand in the hunt. However, the chase lost steam after Prathanmitr was run out at the start of the final over and UAE eventually won by two runs.

Bhutan could not repeat their opening-day success and went down to a nine-wicket loss to Nepal at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana. No batsman managed double figures as Bhutan limped to 34 off their 25 overs. Sonu Khadka was Nepal's most successful bowler with 2 for 3 in five overs. Opener Maya Rawat led the chase with an unbeaten 20 off 25 balls. This was Nepal's second win in two days. Bhutan's coach Damber S Gurung praised Nepal's performance. "Everyone sees Nepal as a tough opponent," Gurung was quoted as saying in Nepal's Himalayan Times.

By conceding 43 extras China contributed significantly to Kuwait's win at the Prem Oval in the first game of the tournament for the two sides. Kuwait lost three wickets in chasing down China's 67; captain Priyada Murali's 11 was the top score. Though their bowling was undisciplined, China did trouble Kuwait and kept a check on the runs scored off the bat. Opener Khansa Irfan batted 46 balls for her unbeaten 4 and Alina D'Silva took 20 balls for her 6. Kuwait were also guilty of boosting China's score with extras - 30 in all. Murali took two wickets - both caught and bowled - for five runs.