EC Roundup – 22nd December 2024 – Nepal shine at U19 Asia Cup

Nepal rose to take third in the Women's U19 Asia Cup, as well as stories from across the emerging game

By
Tom Grunshaw
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Welcome to this week’s Emerging Cricket Roundup, condensing all the major news into one easy-to-digest place. In this week wrap:

Headlines

Nepal claim 3rd at Women’s U19 Asia Cup

Bahamas complete Americas Regional qualifier line-up

UAE win thrilling Gulf T20I Championship

WT20Is around the world

Nepal claim 3rd at Women’s U19 Asia Cup

It was an excellent 3rd place finish for Nepal at the Women’s U19 Asia Cup in Malaysia. Success came as soon as the second day of the tournament where Puja Mahato’s all-round performance helped Nepal defeat Pakistan.

Set 105 to win after Mahato led with 2/27, Nepal were able to complete the chase with an over to spare. Mahato again led the way with 47* of 47 balls, backed up by contributions from Sana Praveen, Sony Pakhrin and Seemana KC. With Pakistan already having lost to India the day before, Nepal’s win qualified them to the Super 4s stage with a game to spare.

Rain frustrated Nepal after that, though equally boosted their points total. India were set for a comfortable victory before rain stopped play three overs into the chase, leading to a No Result. A similar fate befell their game against Sri Lanka, where a total of 1 over was completed in the game. Nepal’s final game was a defeat to Bangladesh by 9 wickets in a game shortened to 11 overs-a-side by the weather. Defeat meant Nepal could not reach the final, but four points from four games was enough to secure 3rd ahead of Sri Lanka.

For the hosts, it was a more challenging experience. Malaysia lost both their group games heavily: to Sri Lanka by 94 runs and to Bangladesh by 120 runs. Third in their group, they were set to play Pakistan in the 5th place playoff though the match was abandoned without a ball bowled, the two sides sharing 5th place.

Bahamas complete Americas Regional qualifier line-up

The line-up for the Americas Regional T20 World Cup Qualifier is complete, with Bahamas claiming the final spot alongside Canada, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. It was, however, far from straightforward on the final day.

Asked to bat first by Mexico, the Bahamas were reduced to 39/7 after 11 overs, needing a win to secure qualification. In a high-pressure scenario, number eight Kevron Hinds smashed 48 off 33 balls to help post a competitive 95/9. It would prove to be plenty, with Mexico falling to 40/6 and then 71 all out. It made Argentina’s game against Brazil a dead rubber, Bahamas securing qualification.

Bermuda were overall winners, unbeaten and missing out on a perfect record only due to rain. Cayman Islands and Bahamas qualified with 6-2 records, with Argentina again missing out narrowly, one point behind in 4th.

Every team won at least two games, with 5th through 9th separated by just two points. Belize finished fifth on three wins, ahead of Mexico, Panama, Suriname and Brazil, all on two.

UAE win thrilling Gulf T20I Championship

The UAE claimed the Gulf T20I Championship, after a thrilling 2 run win over Kuwait in the final. Chasing 154 to win, Kuwait seemed all but resigned to defeat at 113/8 in the 17th over. But Meet Bhavsar, Kuwait’s leading batter in the tournament, started finding the boundary to stay in the contest. With the chase reduced to 22 off 9 balls, strike was turned over to number ten Yasin Patel. Patel hit 4, 6, 4 to leave Kuwait needing 8 from the final over. Bhavsar earned a wide and a four to make the equation 3 off 5 balls, but then lost his wicket, caught off Muhammed Jawadullah’s bowling. Jawadullah then bowled Mohamed Shafeeq, to see off the challenge and give the UAE a two-run win.

UAE had dominated the group stages with a 4-1 record, losing to Saudi Arabia after they had secured their place in the final. Behind them was a characteristically competitive battle between the Gulf states, with four teams still competing by the final group games. It went down to a head-to-head between Kuwait and Oman, with Bhavsar again leading Kuwait to victory, and second place. Saudi Arabia took 3rd, with Oman struggling in 4th with only 2 wins, level with Bahrain, and Qatar trailing in 6th with a 1-4 record.

WT20Is around the world

Women’s T20I bilaterals continue in all corners of the globe, including rare December cricket in Europe. Gibraltar made use of their Mediterranean winter to host Jersey for a two-match series, which the visitors were comfortable 2-0 winners.

 

Meanwhile, Bhutan have begun hosting Myanmar for a five-match WT20I series. The visitors have taken a 2-0 lead after the first two games, after wins by 2- and 3-wickets, respectively.

Finally, England XI were the winners of the Women’s European Cricket Championship Premier Division. England defeated a Netherlands XI in the final, with Ireland Academy 3rd, Scotland XI 4th and Italy in 5th.

Beyond the boundary

Squads have been announced for three of the six associate nations for next month’s Women’s U19 World Cup in Malaysia. Nigeria, Scotland and USA have each announced their 15-player rosters, with Samoa, Nepal and hosts Malaysia to follow suit shortly. The tournament begins on 18th January.

Coming Up

Cricket briefly slows for the holiday period, but action continues. Myanmar’s series in Bhutan runs until the 27th, while Singapore hosts the Philippines for a 4-match WT20I series between the 23rd and 27th.

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