HomeACC Women's U19 Asia CupUnder-19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024: Puja Mahato’s All Round Heroics Ensure...

Under-19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024: Puja Mahato’s All Round Heroics Ensure Nepal U-19 Beat Pakistan U-19

Nepal Under-19s claimed a thrilling six-wicket victory over Pakistan Under-19s in the fourth match of Group A at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur, in the Under-19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024. 

The encounter was a low-scoring affair, but it offered plenty of drama and a remarkable individual performance from Nepal’s captain, Puja Mahato, who played a decisive all-round role to steer her team to victory.

Pakistan’s Struggles Up Front

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan Under-19s faced immediate challenges in their innings, struggling to find any real momentum against a disciplined Nepalese bowling attack. 

The tone was set in the very first over as Puja Mahato, Nepal’s captain and star performer, struck with a pivotal breakthrough. Fizza Fiaz, opening the innings for Pakistan, fell for a duck after facing just two deliveries, trapped leg-before by Mahato. This early setback left Pakistan at 2/1, placing immediate pressure on the rest of the batting lineup to recover.

Komal Khan’s Knock of Intent

Komal Khan, the other opener, showed resilience and attempted to stabilize the innings. Her composed knock of 38 runs off 43 balls was marked by two well-timed boundaries. Khan’s determination to anchor the innings stood out, especially as wickets kept tumbling at the other end. 

Ravail Farhan contributed briefly with a 15-ball 13, but her dismissal—caught by Mahato off Rachana Chaudhary in the sixth over—marked another crucial blow. By the time Areesha Ansari was bowled by Riya Sharma for just 1 run in the following over, Pakistan had slumped to 27/3, with their top order back in the pavilion.

Komal Khan’s partnership with Maham Anees was the only bright spot in Pakistan’s innings. Anees, coming in during a period of pressure, played a cautious yet effective knock of 29 not out off 38 deliveries. While she lacked the aggressive intent to accelerate the scoring, her presence at the crease helped Pakistan avoid a complete collapse.

Together, she and Khan managed to take the team to a more respectable score before Khan was dismissed in the 15th over. Caught by Gurung off Seemana KC, Khan’s departure for 38 ended Pakistan’s hopes of building a substantial total.

Zoofishan Ayyaz Unable To Convert Her Start

Zoofishan Ayyaz, Pakistan’s captain, chipped in with a run-a-ball 12 before falling victim to Mahato’s clever bowling. A late cameo from Fatima Khan, who scored 6 off just three deliveries, added some much-needed runs at the death, but it was far from enough to put Nepal under any significant pressure. Pakistan’s total of 104/5 in their 20 overs was a reflection of a combination of tight bowling and a lack of substantial partnerships in their innings.

Nepal’s Bowlers Exert Control

Nepal’s bowlers were outstanding throughout the innings, maintaining consistent lines and lengths that stifled Pakistan’s scoring opportunities. Rachana Chaudhary and Riya Sharma were particularly impressive, both delivering miserly four-over spells. 

Chaudhary’s exceptional economy rate of 2.75 and Sharma’s identical figures of 1/11 ensured that the Pakistani batters never found a rhythm. Seemana KC also bowled effectively, claiming one wicket for 16 runs in her three overs. Krishma Gurung, though slightly expensive with figures of 0/30 in her four overs, played a supportive role in Nepal’s collective bowling effort.

Mahato’s all-round performance with the ball was pivotal. Her 2/27 in four overs included the key wickets of Fizza Fiaz and Zoofishan Ayyaz, underlining her knack for delivering in critical moments. Extras played a small but significant role in Pakistan’s total, with Nepal conceding five wides, although their overall discipline with the ball largely overshadowed this minor lapse.

Pakistan’s inability to string together meaningful partnerships was their undoing. Despite Komal Khan’s valiant effort and Maham Anees’ steady contribution, the lack of support from the rest of the batting lineup meant they were restricted to a below-par total. The disciplined and methodical bowling display from Nepal ensured that Pakistan’s batters could never fully capitalize on their opportunities, setting the stage for a manageable chase.

Nepal’s Cautious Start

Nepal’s chase began cautiously as the team looked to build their innings against a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack. The initial exchanges were tight, with Pakistan’s bowlers ensuring that runs came at a premium. Opener Sana Praveen struggled to accelerate, managing 10 runs off 15 balls before being run out in the sixth over. Her dismissal highlighted Pakistan’s strong fielding effort and left Nepal at 24/1, needing a steady hand to navigate the tricky chase.

Fatima Khan, Pakistan’s standout bowler, maintained excellent control, troubling the batters with her tight lines and lengths. She struck in the seventh over, dismissing Sabitri Dhami for eight runs off 13 balls. Dhami’s dismissal further tightened the game, with the scoreboard reading 28/2 after 6.1 overs. At this stage, the match was evenly poised, with both teams having a chance to seize control. Pakistan’s bowlers applied sustained pressure, slowing the scoring rate and forcing Nepal to rethink their approach.

Puja Mahato’s Game Defining Knock

Amidst this tense situation, Nepal’s skipper Puja Mahato emerged as the pivotal figure in the chase. Coming in under pressure, Mahato displayed remarkable composure and maturity for her age. Her unbeaten 47 off 47 balls was a masterclass in constructing an innings under challenging circumstances. 

She batted with a clear strategy, rotating the strike effectively and finding the gaps with precision to ensure the required run rate remained manageable. Her ability to remain calm and focused allowed her to anchor the innings, even as wickets fell at the other end.

Mahato received support from Sony Pakhrin, who contributed a patient 13 off 20 balls. While Pakhrin struggled to accelerate, her partnership with Mahato added stability to the innings and inched Nepal closer to their target. However, Pakhrin’s run-out in the 15th over provided Pakistan with a glimmer of hope. With the score at 85/3 and the pressure mounting, the game was still open for either side to take.

Nepal’s chase was ultimately sealed by a small yet crucial cameo from Seemana KC. Her quickfire 12 not out off 12 balls provided the final push needed to secure victory with an over to spare. KC’s confident strokeplay at the death complemented Mahato’s calm presence, ensuring that Nepal crossed the finish line without further hiccups.

Pakistan’s bowlers fought valiantly to defend the modest target of 105. Fatima Khan delivered an outstanding spell, finishing with figures of 1/11 from her four overs. Her ability to keep the batters tied down with sharp, accurate deliveries was a highlight of the match.

Quratulain Ahsen also bowled impressively, taking 1/13 in her four overs and keeping Nepal’s batters on their toes. The duo’s efforts, however, were let down by a lack of support from the rest of the attack and a costly lack of discipline in the field.

Extras proved to be a decisive factor in the match. Pakistan conceded 15 runs in extras, including nine wides, which eased the pressure on Nepal at crucial moments. In a low-scoring contest where every run mattered, these additional runs tilted the balance in Nepal’s favor. The inability to maintain tight lines and avoid unnecessary extras was a key area where Pakistan faltered, undermining their otherwise commendable bowling effort.

The victory was a testament to Nepal’s balanced team effort, with Mahato leading from the front. Her ability to rise to the occasion with both bat and ball made her the deserving Player of the Match. Earlier in the game, her bowling had set the tone, and her composed batting under pressure completed the job. Mahato’s all-round performance underlined her growing stature as a leader and a match-winner for Nepal.

This win keeps Nepal firmly in contention in Group A, showcasing their resilience and tactical awareness. For Pakistan, the loss highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in avoiding extras and building partnerships in their batting innings. The match underscored the growing competitiveness in the Under-19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup, reflecting the talent and promise of young cricketers in the region. Both teams will look to build on the lessons from this game as they progress in the tournament.

Brief Scores: Under-19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024: Nepal vs Pakistan– Match 4

Pakistan- 104/5 in 20 overs (Komal Khan 38, Maham Anees 29; Puja Mahato 2/27) lost to Nepal- 105/4 in 19 overs (Puja Mahato 47; Fatima Khan 1/11) by 6 wickets.


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