Nepal U-19 women’s cricket team captain Puja Mahato scored a record century as Nepal defeated Kuwait by 165 runs in the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier to keep afloat their World Cup hopes.

Mahato opted to bat first after winning the toss and smashed an unbeaten 130 in her aggressive 69-ball knock at the Sevens Stadium in Ajman, the United Arab Emirates, to help Nepal post a mammoth 213-2 from the allotted 20 overs.

The 213 is the biggest total by a Nepal U-19 women’s team.

Mahato also became the first U-19 batter to score a century in the history of the tournament, which is now in its second edition. The first edition was held in 2022. The UAE’s Lavanya Keny’s unbeaten 99 was the highest individual score so far, which she scored against Kuwait in a 184-run victory on Monday.

Mahato’s hundred is also the second century by a Nepali woman player in an international match. Rubina Chhetry (118 not out off 59 balls) had scored Nepal’s first ever international century during the ACC Women’s Premier Cup T20I match against the Maldives in February earlier this year.

Mahato’s 130 is also the highest individual score by a Nepali woman batter.

Nepal were at 56-2 at the end of the power play after losing their openers Sana Praveen for six and Sabitri Dhami for 11.

Mahato then put on a 157-run stand with Sony Pakhrin for the third wicket to take Nepal to a record total.

Mahato, who cracked 17 boundaries, reached her half-century off 29 balls in the 9.2 overs and completed her century off 57 balls in the 16.2 overs.

Pakhrin played an unbeaten 43 runs facing 33 deliveries.

Kuwait—who had lost their first round match against Nepal by 108 runs—were all out for 48 in 13 overs, with Mahato shining with the ball again.

Mahato took five wickets giving away only eight runs in her deadly four-over spell, including four in the ninth over (Raelyn Maria D Souza in the 8.1 overs, Ameesha Ram Olacheri in the 8.2 overs, Pearl Serena Simon in the 8.4 overs and Sarrah Jasvi in the 8.5 overs).

Mahato’s 5-8 also included the wicket of opener Ayesha Iqbal Pewakar, whose 4 off 10 provided the second highest score for Kuwait. Seven Kuwait batters could not score a single run, while Khadija Jahir Hussain was not out one zero when Nepal wrapped up the innings.

Kuwait skipper Zeefa Jilani top scored for her team with 36 off 42, while seven runs came as extra.

Seema KC took two wickets in her magical one over conceding just one run, while Rachanna Chaudhary also picked two scalps.

Nepal now need to defeat leaders United Arab Emirates, who defeated Thailand by nine wickets in the day’s other action, to stand any chance of qualifying for the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia.

Nepal, whose only loss of the competition came against the UAE on Saturday, currently sit in the second position with eight points. Unbeaten UAE occupy the top position with 10 points.

The top-placed team at the end of the double round-robin league of the Asia Qualifier will secure the last remaining place at the main event, joining other four teams who have already booked their places at the World Cup through regional qualifiers.

Nigeria qualified from Africa, Samoa from East Asia Pacific and Scotland from Europe. The United States automatically qualified from the Americas region—and for a second time in a row—as they were the only team in the region to meet the criteria required to enter the qualification pathway.

The 10 full-member teams from the 2023 U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup—Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies—have already received direct entry.

Malaysia qualified as hosts.