Bhutan Women produced a composed and resilient performance to register a hard-fought three-wicket victory over Malaysia Women in the opening match of the Lotus Cup Women’s Tri-Series 2026 at Gelephu, chasing down a modest target with four balls to spare in a contest that ebbed and flowed right till the closing overs.
Malaysia Women began their innings under pressure as early wickets disrupted any early momentum. Anju Gurung made an immediate impact, trapping Ainna Hamizah Hashim lbw for a two-ball duck in the opening over, setting the tone for Bhutan’s disciplined bowling effort. Skipper Winifred Duraisingam and Mas Elysa then attempted to stabilise the innings, stitching together a cautious partnership that focused on rotation rather than boundary-hitting.
Winifred, anchoring the innings, struck 26 off 40 deliveries, while Elysia contributed a patient 17 from 32 balls. Their stand helped Malaysia recover from 2 for 35, but just as the partnership began to settle, Riya Pradhan broke through by dismissing Elysa lbw in the ninth over.
Mahirah Izzati Ismail provided a brief injection of intent with a brisk 13 off 11 balls, including a couple of well-timed boundaries, but Bhutan continued to chip away with wickets. Tshering Zangmo was particularly effective in the middle overs, removing Mahirah and Nur Dania Syuhada in quick succession to halt Malaysia’s progress at 50 for 4 and then 71 for 5. Nur Arianna Natsya’s short stay ended on 4, bowled by Riya Pradhan, before Winifred’s resistance was finally ended at 79 when she fell in the 17th over.
The lower order tried to push the scoring rate, with Aina Najwa remaining unbeaten on 14 off 15 balls and Irdina Beh Nabil adding 7, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Malaysia closed their innings at 98 for 8 in 20 overs, with extras contributing a significant 17 runs. For Bhutan Women, the bowling effort was well shared: Anju Gurung (2/10) led the attack with control and discipline, Riya Pradhan (2/16) struck at crucial moments, while Tshering Zangmo (2/23) ensured there was no late surge. Ritsihi Choden chipped in with a tidy spell of 1/12, maintaining pressure through the middle overs.
Chasing 99, Bhutan Women’s reply began shakily as Karma Dema was dismissed for a duck in the very first over, followed by Sonam Paldon falling cheaply. Ngawang Choden then played a key role in steadying the innings, combining with Tshering Zangmo in a vital partnership that took Bhutan from early trouble to 45 for 3. Ngawang top-scored with a fluent 27 off 28 balls, striking five boundaries and rotating the strike efficiently. After her run out in the ninth over, Bhutan found themselves wobbling again, losing Tshering Zangmo (11) and Chado Om in quick succession.
Captain Anju Gurung held her nerve in the middle phase, scoring a composed 15 off 18 balls, while Sonam Choden added valuable runs with a patient 20 off 28 deliveries. Their partnership took Bhutan past the 75-run mark, bringing the chase firmly back on track. Malaysia’s bowlers, led by Nur Dania Syuhada (2/12) and Mas Elysa (2/17), kept things tight, with Nur Arianna Natsya also picking up a wicket and maintaining control during the middle overs.
The match headed into the final over with Bhutan needing a handful of runs. Sonam remained unbeaten on 9, and Ritsihi Choden finished the chase in style with a quickfire 5 off just 2 balls, ensuring Bhutan reached 100 for 7 in 19.2 overs. Anju Gurung’s all-round effort earned her the Player of the Match award, underlining her importance to the side.
The Bhutan Women vs Malaysia Women clash showcased disciplined bowling, gritty batting partnerships, and calm finishing under pressure, making it a compelling start to the Lotus Cup Women’s Tri-Series 2026 and highlighting the growing competitiveness in women’s associate cricket.
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