Bhutan Women delivered a composed and confident performance to secure an emphatic 8-wicket victory over Malaysia Women in the semi-final of the Lotus Cup Women’s Tri-Series 2026 in Gelephu, showcasing disciplined bowling followed by a clinical batting chase.
Malaysia Women began their innings with Ainna Hamizah Hashim and captain Winifred Duraisingam at the top, looking to set a competitive platform. Ainna Hamizah Hashim provided early intent, scoring 12 off 14 balls, including a boundary and a six, before she was trapped lbw by Ritshi Choden to give Bhutan their first breakthrough.
Malaysia then suffered a mini collapse as Mas Elysa fell for a duck, followed by Nur Izzatul Syafiqa and Mahirah Izzati Ismail, both dismissed for ducks, as Bhutan’s bowlers tightened the screws. Sonam led the charge with a stunning spell, picking up 3 wickets for 16 runs, dismantling the middle order with accurate lines and subtle variations.
Winifred Duraisingam tried to anchor the innings, scoring 20 off 35 balls, but struggled to find consistent support as wickets kept tumbling. Nur Dania Syuhada chipped in with 13 off 24 balls, while late contributions from Iridina Beh Nabil (16 off 20 balls) and Aina Najwa (9* off 15 balls) helped Malaysia push the score past 80. Riya Pradhan impressed with the ball, returning figures of 2/7 in 3 overs, while Tsering Choden and Ritshi Choden also contributed with crucial breakthroughs, ensuring Malaysia finished on 81/7 in 20 overs.
In response, Bhutan Women started their chase with Ngawang Choden and Karma Dema. Malaysia struck early when Karma Dema was dismissed for 3 off 12 balls by Nur Arianna Natsya, followed by Mamta Rai, who was trapped lbw for 0 by Nur Dania Syuhada, reducing Bhutan to 19/2. However, what followed was a match-defining partnership between Ngawang Choden and Tshering Zangmo, who calmly rebuilt the innings.
Ngawang Choden played a mature innings, scoring 35* off 34 balls, striking three boundaries and rotating the strike effectively. Tshering Zangmo complemented her perfectly with an aggressive knock of 35* off 29 balls, including six boundaries, maintaining a brisk scoring rate. The duo stitched together an unbeaten partnership to guide Bhutan home comfortably, finishing the chase in just 12.4 overs, highlighting their dominance under pressure.
For Malaysia, Nur Dania Syuhada and Nur Arianna Natsya each picked up a wicket, while Mahirah Izzati Ismail, Mas Elysa, Winifred Duraisingam, and Amalin Sorfina bowled economically but lacked breakthroughs in the middle overs.
Bhutan Women’s all-round display, spearheaded by Sonam’s exceptional bowling and the composed batting of Ngawang Choden and Tshering Zangmo, ensured a convincing win and secured their place in the final. Sonam was deservedly named Player of the Match for her impactful spell that laid the foundation for Bhutan’s dominance.
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