Nepal women miss Asian Games berth after last-ball defeat to China

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted May 31, 2026

Nepal missed out on qualification for the Asian Games after suffering a heartbreaking five-wicket defeat to China in the third-place playoff of the Asian Games Qualifier in Malaysia.

Asked to bat first, Nepal endured the worst possible start, slipping to 7 for 3 in 2.2 overs before rain interrupted play. Samjhana Khadka (5), Puja Mahato (1) and Rubi Poddar (0) were dismissed early.

After the resumption, Nepal lost further ground as Sony Pakhrin retired hurt after scoring 5 off 7 balls, while captain Indu Barma was stumped for 11 off 8 deliveries.

Kabita Kunwar then provided some momentum with a quickfire 22 off 10 balls, including a six and a boundary, helping Nepal reach 50 for 5.

For China, Ma Ruike returned 2 for 5, while Zhu Mingyue and Zhao Yihan picked up a wicket each.

Following the rain interruption, China were set a revised target of 43 runs from seven overs under the DLS method.

Captain Zhu Mingyue gave China an aggressive start, scoring 18 off 13 balls with three boundaries before falling to Riya Sharma.

China then lost three wickets for just three runs to slip to 27 for 4, with two of those dismissals coming via run-outs.

With seven runs required from the final over, Sita Rana Magar was handed the responsibility of defending the target. She conceded just three runs, including a bye, from the first four deliveries before Wei Haiting was stumped by Rubi Poddar off a wide ball.

Chen Xinyu took a single from the fifth delivery, leaving China needing two from the final ball. Cai Yuzhi then struck a boundary towards long-on to seal qualification for China.

Cai remained unbeaten on 11 as China secured an Asian Games berth in dramatic fashion.

For Nepal, Riya Sharma returned impressive figures of 2 for 3 from her two overs, while Sita Rana Magar picked up one wicket.