Once again, Nepal’s women’s cricket team has showcased its potential on the international stage, winning the Women’s Twenty20 International (T20I) series against hosts Malaysia. On the one hand, the Nepal Men’s Cricket team is performing well, and on the other hand, the Women’s Cricket team is matching that momentum with results of its own.
Nepal won the series by defeating Malaysia by five wickets in the fifth and decisive match at Bayuemas Oval on October 8. With that victory, Nepal won the five-match series 3–2. “Winning the series is a big achievement for us. We played as a team and won the trophy,” said captain Indu Barma. It was her first trophy since taking over the captaincy in November 2023. Nepal had also won a five-match series against Malaysia in 2023 by the same 3–2 margin.
Nepal lost the first game by three runs but came back in the second, winning by six wickets. In the third game, Malaysia won by 13 runs, but Nepal bounced back in the fourth with a six-wicket victory to level the series. In the decisive fifth game, Nepal won and lifted the trophy.
In the last game, chasing a 104-run target set by Malaysia, Nepal met the target in 18 overs at the loss of five wickets. Rubi Poddar scored 26 runs, Puja Mahato 23 runs, Rubina Chhetri 15 runs (not out), and Samjhana Khadka 13 runs for Nepal.
Ainna Hamizah, Nur Dania Syuhada, Aisya Eleesa Erni Firdaus, and Nur Alya of Malaysia took one wicket each. Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Malaysia gathered 103 for in 20 overs at the loss of seven wickets. Winifred top-scored with 40 runs, while Mahira Izzati Ismail made 19 runs, Ainna Hamizah 15 runs, and Nur Dania Syuhada 11 runs. For Nepal, Kabita Kunwar and Rajmati Airee took three wickets each, and Rachana Chaudhary claimed one wicket.
Nepal’s women’s cricket journey began in 2007. Although Nepal started playing international cricket in 1996, the women’s team only got its chance a decade later.
Former General Manager of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), Britant Khanal, said, “The Nepal women’s team has lifted trophies for the country since its debut, but it still gets less attention than men’s cricket in Nepal. The Cricket Association of Nepal must make more investments and organize more tournaments to develop women’s cricket in Nepal.”
