KATHMANDU: Nepal secured a historic victory against Maldives in the ACC Women’s Premier Cup, with notable performances from the team’s batters Rubina Chhetry and Puja Mahato.

Chasing a target of 228 runs set by Nepal in the match held in Malaysia, Maldives was restricted to just 213 runs in 13.5 overs, claiming a remarkable victory.

Maldives, aiming for the massive target, collapsed at 13 runs, and Nepal clinched the victory with a 214-run milestone achievement.

In Maldives’ innings, they lost wickets steadily, and the highest scorer was Sumaya Ahmad, contributing 5 runs.

Six Maldivian players were out for a duck, marking Nepal’s biggest win in women’s T20 internationals.

Nepal’s former captain Rubina Chhetry claimed 3 wickets in 3.5 overs, giving away only 2 runs.

Before that, in their batting innings, Nepal set a target of 228 runs after winning the toss and batting first.

Rubina Chhetry played a phenomenal innings, scoring an unbeaten century.

She hit 10 fours and 3 sixes in her innings, facing 59 balls.

Puja Mahato, contributing 59 runs, played a crucial role in Nepal’s total score of 227 runs in 20 overs.

Chhetry and Mahato shared a partnership of 166 runs for the fifth wicket, guiding the team to a commanding position.

Chhetry’s innings of 118 runs, including 10 fours and 5 sixes, marked a historic century, making her the first Nepali female cricketer to achieve this milestone in international cricket.

Puja Mahato’s innings featured 5 fours and 1 six.

Nepal’s opener Kavita Kunwar scored 13, Sita Rana Magar 15, Indu Burma Daki, and Dolly Bhatt were out for 6 runs each. Shamma Ali took 3 wickets in 4 overs for Maldives, and Nabila Naseem claimed 1 wicket.

With this victory, Nepal leads Group D with 6 points in three matches, securing a place in the quarterfinals.

Nepal will face Kuwait, the runner-up of Group A, in the quarterfinals.

Hong Kong, with 4 points in three matches, is in second place in Group D, setting up a potential clash with Nepal in the semi-finals or finals.

Thailand, leading Group A, looks strong with 4 points, while Kuwait, with 4 points in three matches, is in the second position.

The match between Thailand and Singapore is ongoing, but with Singapore chasing a target of 162 runs for victory, Thailand appears to be the clear group winner.

Thus, Nepal is likely to face Kuwait in the quarterfinals of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup.