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Gautam spurs Nepal win

KATHMANDU, FEB 03 -
An all-round performance from Kabita Gautam helped defending champion Nepal began their title hunt in style as they thrashed China by seven wickets in their inaugural match of the ACC U-19 Women’s Championship at Unity Ground, in Kuwait on Friday.

She grabbed three wickets to bowl China out for 61 runs in 32.1 overs. She returned with the bat to stroked unbeaten 25 runs as the two-time champions completed the run chase in 15.2 overs with the loss of three wickets.

Chasing a modest total, Nepal had no hiccups despite opener Shilu Rijal being bowled for a duck in the fifth over with the team score of 14.

Adding two runs to the total Annuradha Chaudhary (12 runs) too returned back to the seats after she was bowled by Chen Huiyan in the sixth over.

Indu Varma, who had come after the fall of the first wicket, stroked 22-ball 16 runs to steady the innings.

Varma and Gautam stitched a 36- runs third partnership to take the game away form China.  Ying Lili, Huiya and Ding Xiuxiu shared a wicket each for China.

Earlier, superb bowling from Gautam where she conceded 14 runs and grabbed three wickets in the five overs spell put the brakes on China’s scoreboard.

Likewise, Sangeeta Gauchan, Sonu Khadka and Santoshi Chaudhary seized two wickets each to bowl China out for 61 runs in 23.1 overs.

Gauchan gave away just a single run and claimed two wickets in her four overs spell to provide the Himalayan nation an excellent platform to kick off the tournament on a high.

China too didn’t have a good start as they lost their first wicket with no runs on the board. Things went down hill from there on as they were 3/5 in the fifth over. Zhu Liya (14) and Ying Lili (13) added 29 runs between them to put some respite to miserable batting. But thing went back to bad from worse after their departure.

Nepal play their second match against Malaysia on Saturday at the same venue.

Posted on: 2012-02-04 10:34

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