By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Jan 24, 2026 12:10 PM • 31 views
KIRTIPUR — Facing the precipice of elimination, Nepal found a hero in Vice-Captain Puja Mahato.
In a high-pressure match at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Mahato anchored a tense chase. She played a sublimely paced, unbeaten half-century. Her effort guided Nepal to a 6-wicket victory over Zimbabwe. The win marks Nepal's first triumph in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier. More importantly, it keeps their faint hopes of reaching the Super Six alive.
After back-to-back losses to Thailand and the Netherlands, the hosts entered Sunday’s fixture needing a win. They responded with grit, chasing down Zimbabwe's target of 130 with three balls remaining.
The Chase: Mahato Stands Tall
Chasing 130, Nepal’s innings hinged on Mahato’s composure. She finished 52 not out off 50 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes.
In doing so, Mahato etched her name in the record books, becoming the first Nepali woman to score three half-centuries in T20 Internationals.
She didn't play a lone hand, however. Opener Bindu Rawal fell early for 15 (lbw). Captain Indu Barma contributed a steady 22 before being bowled. The chase hit a wobble when veteran Sita Rana Magar was forced to retire hurt on 11. Mahato remained constant. Alongside Rubina Chhetri (2 not out), she steered the ship home in 19.3 overs.
First Innings: Bowlers Restrict Zimbabwe
Earlier in the day, Nepal won the toss and elected to field—a decision that paid dividends early on.
Despite a fighting half-century from Zimbabwe’s Kelis Ndhlovu (52) and a solid 34 from Beloved Biza, the visitors managed 129/6 in their 20 overs. Nepal’s bowlers hunted as a pack. Riya Sharma led with 2 wickets. Kabita Kunwar, Puja Mahato, Sita Rana Magar, and Rubina Chhetri each took one. They stifled the run flow in the middle overs.
For Zimbabwe, this fourth consecutive defeat confirms their exit from the tournament, leaving them pointless in the group stage.
The Equation: All Eyes on Monday
While the victory brings relief to the home crowd, the job is far from done.
Nepal’s earlier defeats—by 8 wickets to Thailand and by 2 runs to the Netherlands—have left them in a tough spot.
To advance to the Super Six, Nepal must defeat Scotland on Monday by a large enough margin to surpass the Net Run Rate (NRR) of their rivals. Simply winning may not be enough; if they fall short in improving their NRR or lose the match, Nepal will be eliminated in the group stages.
Monday at Kirtipur promises to be a thriller.
