Kathmandu: Nepal has made history by qualifying for the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, set to be held in Malaysia next year. The milestone was achieved after Nepal defeated the UAE by 8 wickets in a crucial match on Wednesday, securing their spot in the tournament for the first time.

Chasing a modest target of 84 runs set by the UAE, Nepal completed the chase in just 14 overs, losing only 2 wickets. Opener Sana Pravin led the charge with an unbeaten 35 runs. Captain Pooja Mahato also contributed with a quickfire 21 runs off 18 balls, while Sabitri Dhami added 12 runs to the total.

Earlier, UAE, who won the toss and opted to bat first, struggled to put up a big score. They were dismissed for 83 runs in 20 overs, losing 9 wickets in the process. UAE captain Samaira Dharanidhar top-scored for her side with 31 runs, while Rineetha Ranjit contributed 20 runs. Openers Lavanya Kenny and Induja Nandakumar both made 10 runs each.

For Nepal, Krishna Gurung was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets for 17 runs in her 4-over spell. Gurung had a remarkable over, in which she dismissed 3 UAE players, including captain Dharanidhar. Riya Sharma and Seema KC each picked up 2 wickets, while Rachna Kumari Chaudhary took 1 wicket.

Nepal’s victory not only marks their qualification for the prestigious tournament but also highlights the team’s growing strength in women’s cricket.