In a one-sided yet compelling contest at the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 in Bangkok, India A Women delivered a commanding all-round performance to outclass Nepal Women in Match 9 of Group A. The game unfolded as a classic tale of disciplined bowling followed by fearless batting, with India A asserting their dominance in every department to seal a comprehensive seven-wicket victory with 73 balls to spare.
Nepal Women began their innings cautiously after opting to bat, but they were immediately tested by India A’s probing bowling attack. The opening pair of Bindu Rawal and Samjhana Khadka tried to settle in, yet the pressure was evident. The first breakthrough came at 23 in 4.4 overs when Bindu Rawal was dismissed for 11 off 21 balls, caught by Mamatha off Minnu Mani. Samjhana Khadka showed positive intent, striking four boundaries in her brisk 22 off 16 deliveries at a strike rate of 137.50. However, she was trapped lbw by Tanuja Kanwar at 38 in 7.2 overs, shifting the momentum firmly in India A’s favour.
From there, the innings steadily lost direction under relentless spin pressure. Minnu Mani and Tanuja Kanwar spun a web around the middle order, ensuring Nepal never built a substantial partnership. Captain Puja Mahato managed 10 off 14 balls before becoming one of Kanwar’s four victims, bowled as the score read 61 in 11.3 overs. Rubi Poddar briefly counterattacked with a fluent 12 off 9 balls, including two boundaries, but she too fell to Kanwar at 56 in 9.2 overs. Sita Rana Magar was dismissed for a duck, while Kabita Kunwar (1 off 5) and Roma Thapa (1 off 3) fell cheaply, both succumbing to tight bowling and sharp fielding.
Radha Yadav and Minnu Mani provided excellent support to Kanwar. Mani was particularly impressive, finishing with figures of 3 for 8 in her 4 overs at an economy of just 2.00, including the key wickets of Bindu Rawal and Kabita Kunwar. Radha Yadav chipped in with 2 for 17 in 3 overs, removing Rubina Chhetry (1 off 13) and Anu Kadayat (0 off 2). Kanwar stood out with 4 for 12 in her 4 overs, consistently breaking partnerships and controlling the scoring rate.
Saima Thakor (2-1-4-0) was economical upfront, while Prema Rawat (3-0-13-0) and Jintimani Kalita (2-0-18-0) kept things tight in patches. Nepal were eventually bowled out for 78 in 18 overs at a run rate of 4.33, with Kabita Joshi’s unbeaten 12 off 17 offering late resistance. Extras contributed 8 runs (b 6, w 2), but the total never looked imposing on a good batting surface.
Chasing 79, India A Women approached the target with aggression. However, there was an early hiccup when Deeya Yadav fell for 2 off 5 balls, caught by Puja Mahato off Manisha Upadhayay at 2 in just 0.5 overs. Dinesh Vrinda then took control of the chase in spectacular fashion. Her counterattacking 39 not out off just 18 balls, featuring nine boundaries at a staggering strike rate of 216.66, dismantled the Nepal bowling attack.
Anushka Sharma contributed a steady 10 off 10 balls before falling at 19 in 3.1 overs, caught by Belbashi off Anu Kadayat. Vrinda found solid support in Tejal Hasabnis, who played a fluent knock of 18 off 13 balls, striking three fours. The pair stitched together a vital partnership that carried India A to 73 before Hasabnis was bowled by Sita Rana Magar at 7.2 overs. Radha Yadav, the captain, then joined Vrinda and calmly guided the team home with an unbeaten 1 off 1 ball.
Despite the modest total, Nepal’s bowlers tried to fight back. Manisha Upadhayay claimed 1 for 28 in 3 overs, while Anu Kadayat picked up 1 for 38 in her 3 overs. Sita Rana Magar struck once in her brief 0.5-over spell, conceding 9 runs. Kabita Kunwar bowled a tidy over for 7 runs without reward. However, 12 wides proved costly as India A raced to 82 for 3 in just 7.5 overs at a run rate of 10.46.
This dominant display in the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 underlined India A Women’s depth in both bowling and batting. With Tanuja Kanwar’s match-winning 4/12 and Dinesh Vrinda’s explosive unbeaten 39, India A showcased why they remain strong contenders in the tournament, combining disciplined spin bowling with aggressive top-order batting to secure a comprehensive victory over Nepal Women.
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