The eighth match of the ICC Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy 2026 saw a clinical performance from the USA Women as they brushed aside Vanuatu Women by 53 runs. Held at the Gahanga Cricket Stadium in Kigali, the game was largely a one-sided affair defined by a standout individual batting performance and a disciplined bowling unit. After posting a competitive 153/6 on the board, the Americans never allowed Vanuatu to settle, eventually bowling them out for exactly 100 on the final delivery of the match.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat, USA’s innings revolved entirely around a brilliant knock from Chetna Reddy Pagydyala. While her partners struggled to find a high gear, Chetna was in a league of her own, smashing 81 runs off 61 deliveries. Her innings was punctuated by nine boundaries and two towering sixes, providing the backbone of the American total. She held one end firmly even as wickets fell intermittently at the other, ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking at a healthy rate.
The supporting acts for the USA were modest but effective in patches. Isani Vaghela chipped in with a brisk 16 off 14 balls, while Gargi Bhogle contributed 11. Despite some disciplined bowling from Vanuatu’s Vanessa Vira, who finished with figures of 2/15 in her four overs, the USA managed to capitalize on the death overs to reach 153/6. For Vanuatu, Vanessa Vira (2/15 off 4), Selina Solman (0/29 off 3), and Rachel Andrew (1/27 off 3) tried to stem the flow of runs, but Pagydyala’s dominance meant the target was always going to be a steep climb for the island nation.
Vanuatu’s chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost opener Rachel Andrew for a duck in the very first over, clean-bowled by Maahi Madhavan. The pressure mounted quickly as Nasimana Navaika fell shortly after, leaving the team reeling at 15/2. Valenta Langiatu provided a brief spark of resistance, scoring 24 off 20 balls with three fours and a six, but her dismissal in the ninth over effectively broke the back of the top order.
The middle order saw a lone fight from captain Selina Solman, who played a gritty innings of 40 off 40 balls. Solman showed great composure, hitting seven boundaries, but she lacked a steady partner at the other end to build a match-winning stand. The USA bowlers, led by the clinical Aditi Chudasama, kept the squeeze on. Chudasama was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with exceptional figures of 4/15 in her four overs, including the crucial wicket of Solman who was stumped by Pooja Ganesh.
As the required run rate climbed toward double digits, the Vanuatu tail crumbled under the pressure of Sainavi Kambalapalli, who delivered a masterclass in restrictive bowling. Kambalapalli took 3 wickets for just 9 runs in her four-over spell, which included a maiden. The match ended in the final over when Chudasama picked up two wickets in the last two balls, bowling Vanuatu out for 100. It was a comprehensive victory for the USA, cementing their status as one of the form teams of the tournament.
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