Nepal Women delivered a disciplined all-round performance to secure a convincing 51-run victory over Bhutan Women in their ACC Women’s Premier Cup 2026 encounter at the Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar Cricket Oval in Mantin. After being invited to bat first, Nepal had to recover from a shaky start before crucial contributions from the middle order helped them post a competitive total. Their bowlers then backed up the batting effort with a relentless display, never allowing Bhutan to gain momentum in the chase as Nepal continued their impressive campaign in the tournament.
The Nepal innings began positively as Samjhana Khadka looked aggressive from the outset. She struck two boundaries and raced to 10 off just 6 deliveries, helping Nepal reach 13 alongside Bindu Rawal. However, Bhutan drew first blood when Rawal was dismissed for a first-ball duck at 1/1, caught by Sonam Choden off Ritshi Choden. Just six runs later, Nepal suffered another setback when Khadka departed for 10, caught by Tshering Zangmo off Anju Gurung, leaving the score at 13/2 in the third over.
With the innings in danger of losing direction, Puja Mahato and Sony Pakhrin attempted to rebuild through a steady 13-run third-wicket partnership. Pakhrin contributed 13 runs from 20 balls, including two boundaries, before becoming Sonam’s first victim at 32/3 in the sixth over. Nepal’s captain Indu Barma briefly injected momentum with a brisk 5 off 4 balls, but her stay was short-lived as she was caught by Sonam and dismissed by Tshering Zangmo at 40/4 in the seventh over.
The innings was revived through an important 15-run fifth-wicket partnership between Puja Mahato and Sita Rana Magar. Mahato battled hard for her 8 runs from 18 deliveries before being run out at 45/5 in the ninth over. From there, Sita Rana Magar emerged as the backbone of Nepal’s innings. Displaying composure and intelligent stroke play, she anchored the middle overs while wickets continued to fall around her.
Rubi Poddar joined Magar and the pair added just 2 runs before Poddar was dismissed for 1 at 47/6. Kabita Kunwar contributed 3 runs before falling at 67/7, creating another hurdle for Nepal. The defining stand of the innings then came through Sita Rana Magar and Rubina Chhetry, who stitched together a valuable 40-run eighth-wicket partnership that transformed Nepal’s position. Magar played a superb knock of 37 from 28 balls, striking six boundaries and scoring at a strike rate of 132.14. Her innings ended at 107/8 in the 17.3rd over after she was caught by Sonam Choden off Sonam.
Chhetry continued the charge and added crucial late runs, finishing with 24 from 21 deliveries, including three boundaries, before becoming the final wicket to fall at 113 in the last over. Riya Sharma was dismissed for a duck, while Manisha Upadhayay remained unbeaten on 0. Nepal eventually closed on 113 all out in 20 overs, aided by 12 extras that included 11 wides.
Bhutan’s bowling effort featured contributions from multiple bowlers. Sonam was the pick of the attack with impressive figures of 3 wickets for 12 runs from her four overs. Tshering Zangmo also starred with 3 wickets for 21 runs, accounting for key middle-order batters. Anju Gurung claimed 2 wickets for 12 runs in her three-over spell, while Ritshi Choden chipped in with 1 for 26. Riya Pradhan took 1 wicket despite conceding 32 runs, and Sonam Choden bowled a solitary over.
Chasing 114 for victory, Bhutan’s innings got off to the worst possible start. Opener Ngawang Choden was bowled by Kabita Kunwar for a duck on the very first ball of the innings, reducing Bhutan to 0/1. Matters became even more difficult when Ritshi Choden was timed out without facing a ball, leaving Bhutan reeling at 0/2. Dechen Wangmo and Tshering Zangmo then mounted a recovery effort with an 18-run partnership for the third wicket. Zangmo managed 5 runs before being caught by Kunwar off Manisha Upadhayay at 18/3.
Dechen Wangmo stood firm despite wickets falling around her and played the lone substantial innings of the chase. She first added 1 run with Sonam Choden before the latter was trapped lbw by Belbashi for 1. Wangmo then shared a 27-run partnership with Chado Om, which became Bhutan’s best stand of the innings. Chado contributed 11 runs from 21 balls before being caught by Kunwar off Riya Sharma, leaving Bhutan at 46/5 in the 16.3rd over.
The chase effectively ended during the closing overs as Nepal tightened their grip. Sonam scored 2 before falling at 60/6, while captain Anju Gurung was dismissed for a duck at 60/7. Sonam Paldon also failed to score and became the eighth wicket at 61. Throughout the collapse, Dechen Wangmo continued to resist and remained unbeaten on 39 from 60 balls, striking five boundaries. Tshering Choden stayed not out on 1 as Bhutan finished on 62/8 from their 20 overs.
Nepal’s bowlers were outstanding in defending the target. Rubina Chhetry capped a fine all-round performance by taking 3 wickets for just 15 runs in her four overs. Kabita Kunwar delivered a miserly spell of 1 for 5 from four overs, while Manisha Upadhayay returned figures of 1 for 7. Riya Sharma also claimed 2 wickets for 20 runs, and Sita Rana Magar contributed with an economical four-over spell that conceded only 14 runs.
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