Kathmandu: Nepal began their ICC Women’s U-19 World Cup Asia Qualifiers campaign with a dominant 67-run win over Thailand on Wednesday at The Seven Cricket Stadium in the UAE.

Batting first after being sent in by Thailand, Nepal posted a competitive total of 102 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Puja Mahato led the charge with the bat, top-scoring with 35 runs. Simana KC and Soni Pakhrin also contributed with 19 runs each, helping Nepal set a challenging target for their opponents.

In response, Thailand struggled to make an impact with the bat, being bowled out for just 35 runs in 11.4 overs. Nepal’s bowlers were in exceptional form, with Rachana Kumari Chaudhary leading the charge by claiming 4 wickets. Captain Mahato and Riya Sharma each took 2 wickets, while Karishma Gurung and Manisha Kumari Upadhyay picked up one wicket each.

The victory puts Nepal in a strong position in the qualifiers, which also feature the UAE, Kuwait, and Thailand. The top team from the group will advance to the ICC Women’s U-19 World Cup.

Nepal’s next match will be against Kuwait tomorrow, as they look to continue their winning momentum in the tournament.