Nepal Women Fall to USA by 44 Runs in ICC Women’s T20 Challenge Trophy

Nepal Women's National Cricket Team suffered a 44-run defeat against USA Women's National Cricket Team in the ongoing ICC Women's T20 Challenge Trophy match held in Rwanda on April 18, 2026.

USA Set Competitive Target

Playing at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, USA Women batted first and posted a total of 123/6 in 20 overs.

Pooja Ganesh was the standout performer, scoring a crucial 47 runs, which earned her the Player of the Match award. She was well supported by:

• Gargi Bhogle – 34 runs
• Chetna Pagydyala – 30 runs

For Nepal, Manisha Upadhyay impressed with the ball, picking up 2 wickets.

Nepal Struggle in Run Chase

Chasing a target of 124 runs, Nepal faced difficulties throughout their innings and were restricted to 79/9 in 20 overs.

Bindu Rawal top-scored with 27 runs off 45 balls, while Kabita Joshi managed 11 runs. No other batter could reach double digits, highlighting Nepal’s struggle against disciplined bowling.

USA Bowlers Dominate

USA’s bowling attack delivered a strong performance:

• Mahi Madhavan – 2 wickets
• Taranum Chopra – 2 wickets
• Ritu Singh, Lekha Shetty, and Sainvi – 1 wicket each

Their consistent line and length made scoring difficult for Nepal throughout the innings.

Match Summary

• USA Women: 123/6 (20 overs)
• Nepal Women: 79/9 (20 overs)
• Result: USA won by 44 runs

Upcoming Fixture

The two teams will meet again later in the tournament:

• Match: Nepal Women vs USA Women
• Date: April 26, 2026
• Venue: Gahanga Cricket Stadium, Kigali

Head-to-Head in 2026

The rivalry between Nepal and USA Women has been competitive this year, with both teams exchanging wins in earlier matches. However, USA has now taken the upper hand in the latest encounter.

Nepal Women will need to improve their batting performance, especially in building partnerships, while USA Women continue to show strong form with both bat and ball in the tournament.