Invited to bat first after losing the toss, Bhutan were restricted to a paltry score of 53/6 in the rain-hit 20-over final match. In the run chase, Nepal achieved the target with 16 balls to spare.[break]
Nepali women had previously won the title in December, 2008 to claim their first international trophy. Along with the victory, Nepal continued their winning streak in the U-19 championship to 13 matches. The event had started in 2007.
In the match delayed by an hour due to heavy shower just before the beginning, Sarita Magar scored an unbeaten 23 off 45 to pave way for Nepal´s victory after the top order failed in batting. Opening batswoman Sita Rana was run out in the second over without scoring a single run while her partner Manisha Rawal (2) was trapped leg before by Anju Gurung.
Skipper Nary Thapa (10), caught by Tshering Wangmo at mid-wicket, hit a six and a boundary facing seven deliveries. Gurung claimed Rawal and Thapa´s wickets in consecutive balls. Nepal were 3/15 when skipper Thapa returned to the pavilion.
Topscorer Magar, who was later adjudged the player of the final, played a 19-run partnership with skipper Thapa. Mamata Thapa was bowled by Sonam Zam while Trishna Singh was run out for four runs. Sonu Khadka, who did not face a single ball, was the batting partner of Magar when she hit the winning run.
Anju Gurung of Bhutan claimed two wickets while Sonam Zam took one.
"We had aimed to lift the trophy unbeaten, and we succeeded in it," Magar said after the victory.
Earlier, Bhutan lost their first wicket for two runs in 1.5 overs as skipper Ugyen Dema (1) was trapped leg before by Rubina Chhetri. Yeshey Choden (14) and Choening Tenzin (13) were the only other players to score in double figures for Bhutan against the tight bowling and sensible fielding of Nepal.This is Bhutan´s first run to the final in women´s international cricket.
Yeshey Wangmo (9) and Pema Lhaden (3) remained unbeaten while Dechen Wangmo scored 7 runs for Bhutan.
Nepali bowler Rubina Chhetri picked three wickets in her four-over spell conceding 15 runs. Skipper Thapa, Shraddha Aryal and Magar claimed one wicket apiece. Bowling four overs, Thapa conceded only seven runs.
Nepali skipper Thapa won the best batswoman award in the tournament contested by 11 Asian countries. During the tournament, she had scored 191 runs with an average of more than 38 runs and also claimed seven wickets. She had won the player-of-the-match award in three of the seven matches played by Nepal.
Devika Darjee of Bhutan took home the best bowler award while the player of the series award went to Yasmin Daswani of Hong Kong.
Nepali coach Samson Jung Thapa said that the run was not very easy although they were confident of winning the title. "It was truly like a final. We were under pressure after we could not make runs in the middle. However, we had the self-confidence that we´d win the title," Thapa said, expressing his satisfaction toward the battling lineup. "This team is highly motivated to score runs, which is positive for Nepali cricket."
He also lauded Bhutan´s performance. "Bhutan have made a great stride in women´s cricket and could be strong opponents of Nepal in coming days," he added.
Skipper Thapa was disappointed at her quick dismissal and said that the final was much tougher than their expectations. "I also had an early exit but I had confidence in other players," said Thapa, adding that restricting Bhutan to a low total was an advantage for the team.
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