It is often said that no two days are the same in sports. This is also true in life—you live every moment only once. Yet, Nepal’s recent performances have been strikingly similar, at least in terms of results. The Nepal Women’s cricket team was experiencing its worst-ever form, losing 12 out of their last 13 T20Is before securing a victory against Hong Kong in their final round-robin match.
When playing against higher-ranked teams, losses are inevitable. Pakistan and India were far too strong for Nepal when they faced off in last year’s Women’s T20 Asia Cup. However, post-Asia Cup, Nepal has played against five different teams (Netherlands, Thailand, Namibia, Uganda, and Hong Kong) but managed victories against only two. Nepal squandered golden opportunities, failing to chase 106 against Thailand and failing to defend 146 against the Netherlands. On the good batting surfaces of the T.U. ground, superior teams exposed Nepal’s shortcomings, particularly in fitness and fielding.
A month later, Nepal embarked on their first-ever tour outside Asia, participating in the Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series in Uganda. Despite Namibia being a higher-ranked opponent, their first meeting with Nepal seemed evenly contested. Had it not been for two costly dropped catches, Puja Mahato might have successfully defended 10 runs in the final over of a rain-curtailed match. Nepal quickly bounced back, defeating Uganda—a team that had previously beaten them 3-2 in a five-match series in Kathmandu four years ago. However, the win was dramatic; Nepal collapsed, losing four wickets for just one run, and it took the last-wicket pair to scrape through to victory.
The joy was short-lived as Nepal suffered yet another close defeat—this time against their contemporary, Hong Kong, who edged them by two runs. At one stage, Nepal was cruising at 73/4, but a controversial run-out decision against Bindu Rawal—given out despite the bowler fumbling the ball and attempting a run-out without having it in hand—proved costly. With no television replays available, the umpire’s error went unnoticed. Two more run-outs—Kabita Joshi and Rubina Chhetri both dismissed without facing a ball (diamond ducks)—further hampered Nepal’s chances. Even though Nepal needed only 25 runs off the final three overs, a lack of boundaries on the slow outfield meant they fell just two runs short. In the last 45 balls of their innings, Nepal failed to hit a single boundary.
Nepal had their moments in the third game as well. Namibia was struggling at 50/5 after 10 overs, with 33 of those runs coming in the first 3.3 overs. However, Namibia recovered to post 125/8—15-20 runs above par given Nepal’s timid batting. Again, the lack of boundaries proved to be a major hindrance. After Puja Mahato and Indu Barma, the only two Nepali batters with a 100+ strike rate in the innings were dismissed, Nepal’s chase faltered. From the 12th to the 20th over, Nepal managed just one boundary. While Namibia added 49 runs in the final six overs with five boundaries, Nepal could only muster 28 runs with a solitary boundary on the penultimate ball of the innings.
Just when Nepali fans thought their team would be more comfortable chasing 92 instead of 126, another shocker unfolded. Nepal was bundled out for just 51—their joint second-lowest total in T20I history. Samjhana Khadka fell on the first ball of the innings, and despite a brief 15-run stand between Indu Barma and Puja Mahato, the wickets kept tumbling. From 15/1, Nepal slumped to 30/6. A small 19-run stand between Kabita Kunwar and Ishwori Bista provided a glimmer of hope, but it wasn’t enough to avoid an embarrassing collapse.
In the final round-robin match against Hong Kong—the team that had previously defeated Nepal by two runs—Nepal finally delivered a strong performance. Hong Kong looked set to post 120 when openers Shanzeen Shahzad and Yasmin Daswani were at the crease. However, Rajmati Airee dismissed half-centurion Shahzad at the end of her second over, shifting the momentum. Nepal’s bowlers then tightened the screws, conceding only seven runs in the final four overs. Skipper Indu Barma produced a stunning double-wicket maiden to finish with figures of 2/12 in her four overs, while Rajmati Airee gave away just five runs in her last two overs. Puja Mahato wrapped up the innings with another economical over, restricting Hong Kong to 105.
Despite a modest target, victory was never guaranteed given Nepal’s batting struggles throughout the tournament. Nepal had a rollicking start as out-of-form opener Samjhana Khadka smashed three fours in her first eight deliveries, propelling the team to 21/0 in two overs. However, Hong Kong clawed back, allowing only 15 runs in the next six overs. Under pressure, Indu Barma attempted an aggressive shot but was stumped for 18 off 32 balls. Puja Mahato and Samjhana Khadka maintained the required run rate, taking Nepal to 75/1 after 14 overs, with just 30 runs needed off the last six overs and nine wickets in hand. Khadka, playing her first significant knock since scoring 72 against UAE in last year’s Women’s Asia Cup, departed for 47 off 42 balls. Once again, Nepal struggled to find boundaries, failing to hit a single one after the ninth over. Fortunately, Hong Kong’s sloppy fielding, which included dropping five catches, allowed Nepal to sneak over the line with singles and doubles, securing a six-wicket win in the final over.
Despite the victory, Nepal finished fourth in the standings with only two wins, while all other teams won at least three matches. The third-place playoff against Hong Kong was washed out. Uganda clinched the title by defeating Namibia by eight wickets.
As always, Nepal’s bowling was excellent, except in the final match, where they bowled 12 full tosses—though those deliveries conceded only 15 runs. The emergence of U-19 stars Riya Sharma and Rachana Chaudhary has been promising, while the left-arm seam duo of Rajmati Airee and Ishwori Bista has added a new dimension to the bowling attack.
While Nepal’s catching improved after the first game, their batting remained inconsistent—a rollercoaster ride with a mix of bright moments and forgettable collapses. The inability to rotate the strike and consistently find boundaries has led to an increase in run-out dismissals, with two occurring in almost every match. Nepal would have likely reached the final had they held onto crucial catches in the first game and avoided run-outs against Hong Kong. However, batting remains a major concern. With not many power hitters in the lineup, Nepal must rely on delicate touches, nudges, and quick running between the wickets to accumulate runs. To execute this effectively, fitness will be crucial, especially on slower surfaces where boundaries are harder to come by.
