Nepal Women began their ACC Women’s Premier Cup 2026 campaign with confidence and clarity, brushing aside Qatar Women by 8 wickets in a controlled and disciplined performance in Malaysia. After recent setbacks, including a tough loss to China in their earlier outing, Nepal entered the match under pressure — but responded in style with a complete team effort.
The early phase of the match carried a few nervous moments for Nepal. At one stage, Qatar managed to create slight pressure, and Nepal briefly looked unsettled in the field. However, the bowlers quickly regrouped and tightened their lines, ensuring the opposition could not capitalize further.
Nepal’s bowling attack then took full control of the innings. Qatar Women struggled to build partnerships and were restricted to a low total as wickets fell at regular intervals. The disciplined bowling effort ensured Nepal dominated from the middle overs onward.
Among the standout performers, Rubina Chhetry delivered a brilliant spell, picking up 3 wickets and breaking the backbone of the Qatar batting lineup. She was well supported by Puja Mahato, Kavita Kunwar, and Riya Sharma, who each chipped in with 1 wicket, helping Nepal maintain constant pressure throughout the innings.
Chasing a modest target, Nepal Women showed early nerves again, losing one early wicket, but quickly stabilized the innings. The chase was anchored by a strong batting partnership that ensured there were no further setbacks.
Bindu Rawal played a key role with a composed 33 off 30 balls, providing stability at the top. She was well supported by Puja Mahato, who continued her all-round impact with a fluent 28 off 26 balls, guiding Nepal closer to victory.
From there, Nepal maintained control of the chase and comfortably reached the target with 8 wickets in hand, sealing a convincing win to start their campaign on a high.
The victory places Nepal in a strong position in Group D, where consistency will be crucial moving forward. The tournament format adds significant importance to every match: the top two teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the quarter-finals.
Even more importantly, the stakes are higher in this edition, as the top four teams (semi-finalists) will secure qualification for the Women’s Asia Cup, making group-stage wins extremely valuable.
Nepal will now turn their attention to their next fixture against Bhutan Women on 4 June at 11:45 AM (Nepal Time). Another win will further strengthen their path toward the knockout stage and keep momentum firmly on their side.
What began with early pressure ended in a confident statement — Nepal Women showed resilience, balance, and quality to open their campaign in commanding fashion.
Result: Nepal Women beat Qatar Women by 8 wickets
Next Match: Nepal Women vs Bhutan Women – 4 June, 11:45 AM (Nepal Time)
Key Performers:
Rubina Chhetry: 3 wickets
Puja Mahato: 28 (26) + 1 wicket
Bindu Rawal: 33 (30)
Kavita Kunwar: 1 wicket
Riya Sharma: 1 wicket
Tournament Format:
Top 2 teams from each group qualify for quarter-finals
Top 4 teams (semi-finalists) qualify for Women’s Asia Cup