Kathmandu, 19 May: Nepal has made history by advancing to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier for the first time, after defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 5 wickets in a crucial Super-3 match of the Asia Qualifier held on Monday in Thailand.
With this win, Nepal secured a top-two finish in the Super-3 stage, ensuring their spot in the upcoming Global Qualifier. The tournament will feature 10 teams vying for four places in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in England.
Historic Win and Nervous Moments
Nepal’s captain Indu Barma described the victory as a result of hard work and called it a historic moment for women’s cricket in Nepal. Speaking at the post-match presentation, she admitted feeling nervous during the game but credited her team’s ability to handle pressure.
Barma was named Player of the Match for her unbeaten 30 runs off 28 balls, which included two boundaries. However, she dedicated the award to teammate and bowler Manisha Upadhyay, who played a pivotal role with the ball.
Strong Bowling Performance
Bowler Manisha Upadhyay shone in the first innings, taking four wickets and putting UAE under significant pressure. She conceded just 20 runs in her four overs. Kavita Kunwar took two wickets in the final over, while Rajmati Airee claimed one.
UAE, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, posted 114 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs. UAE captain and opener Esha Oza scored 39 runs off 39 balls, including two fours and a six, before being caught out in the 13th over by Upadhyay. Tirtha Satish added 21 runs, Lavanya Keny contributed 12, and Heena scored 20.
Nepal’s Chase and Key Contributions
Chasing a target of 115, Nepal reached the total with 3 balls to spare, losing 5 wickets. Indu Barma anchored the innings with her unbeaten 30, while all-rounder Rubina Chhetri provided a crucial 23 runs off just 18 balls. Opener Samjhana Khadka added 21 runs, and Pooja Mahato contributed 13.
What’s Next
This victory follows Nepal’s previous success in the group stage, where they topped Group C. In the Super-3 round, they joined Group A winner Thailand and Group B winner UAE.
Thailand had earlier defeated UAE in the Super-3 opener. Nepal will now face host nation Thailand in the final Super-3 match on Tuesday. Ahead of the match, Thailand leads the table with 8 points, Nepal follows with 7, and UAE has 6 points, having completed all their matches.
Nepal’s qualification for the Global Qualifier marks a major milestone in the nation’s women’s cricket journey.
