In an exciting showdown at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, the Nepal women’s cricket team managed to level the five-match series against Malaysia with a solid 6-wicket victory in the 2nd T20I of their tour in 2025. After winning the toss, Nepal chose to field first, applying immediate pressure on the Malaysian batters.
Malaysia’s innings was anchored by opener Ainna Hamizah Hashim, who put in a commendable performance, remaining unbeaten on 50 runs from 63 balls, including five boundaries. Unfortunately for Malaysia, the rest of the batting lineup struggled against the disciplined Nepalese bowling attack.
Captain Winifred Duraisingam could only manage 15 runs off 29 balls before being dismissed lbw by Somu Bist. The lower-order batters, including Mas Elysa and Mahirah Izzati, scored one and eight runs, respectively, leaving the team to rely on extras (17), which contributed significantly to their total of 91/4 in 20 overs.
Among the Nepal bowlers, Somu Bist stood out, taking 2 wickets for 18 runs in her 4 overs. Kabita Kunwar also impressed with figures of (1/5) in 2 overs, while Rachana Choudhary, Kabita Joshi, Puja Mahato, and Riya Sharma all bowled effectively, keeping Malaysia’s run-rate in check. Wickets fell at crucial moments, leaving Malaysia at 1-1 early on, then 44-2, 58-3, and finally 84-4.
Chasing a relatively modest target of 92, Nepal’s innings began on shaky ground. Skipper Indu Barma played a crucial role in steadying the ship after Samjhana Khadka and Kabita Kunwar were both dismissed without scoring, the scorecard reading 0-2 after 0.2 overs.
Rubi Poddar fought back with a valuable 15 runs off 25 balls before being dismissed. At one point, with Nepal at 43/3, the tension grew, but the calmness of Puja Mahato, who scored 39 runs off 39 balls, paired with captain Indu Barma’s 27* off 21, helped guide the team to victory in 16.2 overs with 22 balls to spare. Rubina Chhetry also contributed with an unbeaten 8 runs to close the game out.
This match showcased the resilience and strategic play of the Nepal team, leading to a tie in the series at 1–1. Puja Mahato was named Player of the Match for her key batting performance and contributions.
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