Nepal secures quarterfinal berth in ACC Women Premier League with record victory over Maldives

KATHMANDU: Nepal's women's cricket team achieved a remarkable feat by securing a place in the quarterfinals of the ACC Women Premier League with a historic victory over Maldives in Malaysia on Tuesday.

Nepal dominated the match, clinching a resounding win against Maldives by 214 runs and emerging as the group topper of 'Group D' after triumphing in all three matches played.

This victory stands as Nepal's highest-ever run margin in International T20 Cricket, underscoring the team's exceptional performance on the global stage.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Nepal put up an imposing total of 227 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Rubina Chhetri's remarkable century and Puja Mahatto's impressive half-century were standout performances in Nepal's batting lineup.

Chhetri's century marks her as the first Nepali woman cricketer to achieve this milestone in international T20 matches.

In the second innings, Nepal's bowlers continued their dominance, with Asmina Karmacharya claiming four wickets, while Pooja Mahatto and Rubina Chhetri secured three wickets each.

Maldives struggled to counter Nepal's bowling attack and were all out for just 13 runs in 13.5 overs.

Nepal's journey in the group stage saw convincing victories against Hong Kong, whom they defeated by eight wickets in the first match, and Bhutan, whom they also defeated by eight wickets in the second match.

The top two teams advancing to the finals will earn a coveted spot in the T20 Women Asia Cup scheduled for July.

These teams will face formidable opponents such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, showcasing Nepal's growing presence and competitiveness in women's cricket on the international stage.