KATHMANDU, JANUARY 23, 2026 – In a nail-biting finish at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, the Nepal Women’s national team fell agonizingly short by just 2 runs against the Netherlands on Thursday, January 22. This was Nepal’s second consecutive loss in Group B of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2026, significantly denting their hopes of reaching the Super Six stage and qualifying for the main event in England and Wales later this year.
First Innings: Netherlands Sets a Competitive Total After winning the toss, Dutch captain Babette de Leede elected to bat first. Despite losing opener Phebe Molkenboer for a duck in the very first over, the Netherlands recovered through a solid captain’s knock from De Leede, who top-scored with 49 runs off 47 balls. She was well-supported by Sterre Kalis, who contributed a steady 30 runs. For Nepal, veteran all-rounder Rubina Chhetry was the standout bowler, claiming 2 wickets for 21 runs, while Suman (Somu) Bista, Puja Mahato, and Riya Sharma took one wicket each. The Netherlands finished their 20 overs at 140/5, setting a target of 141 for the hosts.
The Chase: A Late Surge Falls Short Nepal’s chase started shakily, losing early wickets that left the middle order under immense pressure. By the 17th over, Nepal looked out of the race at 93/7, requiring nearly 12 runs per over. However, the legendary pair of Sita Rana Magar and Rubina Chhetry turned the game into a thriller. Sita played a blazing cameo of 27 off just 12 balls*, hitting a series of boundaries in the 18th over to bring the equation down to 13 runs needed off the final 6 balls.
In the high-stakes final over, the pair managed 10 runs. Needing a six to tie the match off the last delivery, Rubina could only find the boundary for a four, ending the innings at 138/7. Rubina remained unbeaten on 37 off 32 balls, but the emotional weight of the narrow loss was visible as both she and Sita were seen in tears on the pitch following the final ball. For the Netherlands, Isabel van der Woning was named Player of the Match for her crucial spell of 3/16.
Current Standings and Road Ahead: With this victory, the Netherlands remains unbeaten at the top of Group B with six points. Nepal, having previously lost to Thailand, now sits at the bottom of the table without a win. To keep their World Cup dreams alive, Nepal must win their remaining group matches against Zimbabwe and Scotland by significant margins and hope for other results in the group to go their way.
Despite the loss, the match marked a historic personal milestone for Rubina Chhetry, who became only the second Nepali woman to cross 1,000 runs in T20 International cricket, joining the elite company of Sita Rana Magar.