Mongolia’s debut on the international cricket stage during the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 was nothing short of a challenging baptism, as they faced a formidable Indonesian women’s side. In a T20I encounter, Mongolia’s performance left much to be desired, as they were bowled out for a meager 15 runs while chasing Indonesia’s daunting target of 188. Notably, this falls short of being the lowest team total ever recorded in international cricket, but it was undoubtedly a tough day for Mongolia.
The struggle for Mongolia’s batters was evident, with none of them managing to reach double figures. In a disheartening turn of events, seven out of their eleven batters were dismissed for a duck. Indonesia’s Andriani Andriani emerged as the standout bowler, claiming four wickets while conceding just eight runs in her four-over spell.
Mongolia’s misfortune began when their skipper, Tsendsuren Ariuntsetseg, won the toss and opted to bowl first at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field. Unfortunately, their decision backfired as Indonesian batters showcased remarkable prowess. Openers Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini and Ni Luh Dewi crafted a formidable partnership of 106 runs for the first wicket. Dewi continued her stellar performance, eventually amassing 62 runs from just 48 balls before being bowled out by Battsetseg Namuunzul.
Indonesia concluded their innings with an imposing total of 187 runs, losing four wickets along the way. On the bowling front, Mongolia saw Mendbayaar Enkhzul, Jargalsaikhan Erdenesuvd, Gansuk Anujin, and Mendbayaar Enkhzul each take a wicket, while Tsendsuren Ariuntsetseg and Battsogt Narangerel went wicketless.
Mongolia’s chase proved to be a daunting task from the outset, losing half of their side with just eight runs on the board by the eighth over. By the end of the tenth over, they were bundled out for a mere 15 runs.
While this debut performance might have been disappointing for the Mongolian cricket team, it marked the beginning of their international cricket journey. With valuable experience gained, they will undoubtedly seek to bounce back stronger in future fixtures, hoping to make a more significant impact in the continental tournament.
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