The United States National Cricket Team delivered a commanding performance on April 26, 2026, defeating Nepal Women by 7 wickets in Match 12 of the ICC Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy 2026 at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Kigali City. Chasing a modest target of 87, USA cruised home in just 11.5 overs to complete one of their most convincing wins at the tournament.
The United States National Cricket Team Vs Nepal National Cricket Team Match Scorecard tells a story of clinical bowling and confident batting. Isani Vaghela’s unbeaten 35 off 29 balls anchored the chase, while a fiery powerplay from the USA bowlers restricted Nepal to a below-par 86/6 in 20 overs. It was a complete team effort that reinforced USA’s position as tournament favourites.
Match Summary Table
| Team | Runs | Wickets | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal Women | 86 | 6 | 20.0 | Lost by 7 wickets |
| USA Women | 89 | 3 | 11.5 | Won by 7 wickets |
Nepal Women never found their footing after being asked to bat first. Despite electing to bat, they lost three top-order wickets inside the first 10 overs for just 20 runs, leaving the innings in the hands of Rubi Poddar. USA’s bowling unit was disciplined throughout, with Sainavi Kamabalapalli’s miserly spell of 1/9 in 4 overs keeping the pressure constant. When USA batted, Sainavi blazed at the top before Isani Vaghela and Pooja Ganesh sealed the match with a brisk, unbroken stand.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article, including the United States National Cricket Team Vs Nepal National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, has been compiled for general informational and SEO content purposes only. All match data, scorecard figures, player statistics, and match details have been sourced from publicly available cricket platforms, including Cricbuzz and ESPNcricinfo, and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication.
Batting Highlights
Nepal Women – Innings Batting (86/6 in 20 Overs)
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samjhana Khadka | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Bindu Rawal | 3 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Puja Mahato | 8 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 29.63 |
| Rubi Poddar* | 51 | 51 | 5 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Kabita Joshi | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Indu Barma | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Kabita Kunwar | 8 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 114.29 |
| Roma Thapa* | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Extras | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 86/6 | 120 | 8 | 1 | 43.00 |
* = Not out
Nepal’s innings was a tale of one-woman resistance. With wickets tumbling at both ends captain Samjhana Khadka out for a golden duck on the very first delivery it was Rubi Poddar who stood firm with a resolute 51 off 51 balls. Her knock was the backbone of Nepal’s total, but without consistent support at the other end, Nepal finished well short of a competitive score. The top order’s failure to rotate strike and build partnerships ultimately cost Nepal at least 20–25 runs.
USA Women – Chase Batting (89/3 in 11.5 Overs)
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sainavi Kamabalapalli | 21 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 123.53 |
| Chetna Pagydyala | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.29 |
| Isani Vaghela* | 35 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 120.69 |
| Pooja Ganesh | 20 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 250.00 |
| Gargi Bhogle* | 12 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Extras | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 89/3 | 71 | 18 | 1 | 74.79 |
* = Not out
USA’s chase was a masterclass in efficiency. Sainavi Kamabalapalli gave the innings a flying start with 21 off 17, and despite losing a couple of early wickets, the middle order never panicked. Isani Vaghela anchored the chase with a composed 35*, while Pooja Ganesh’s explosive 20 off just 8 balls featuring five boundaries shifted momentum decisively in USA’s favour. The partnership between Vaghela and Ganesh was the turning point, effectively putting the match beyond Nepal’s reach.
Bowling Figures
USA Women Bowling (vs Nepal)
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maahi Madhavan | 4 | 16 | 2 | 4.00 |
| Lekha Shetty | 3 | 9 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Aditi Chudasama | 4 | 20 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Jivana Aras | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4.00 |
| Sainavi Kamabalapalli | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2.25 |
| Ritu Singh | 3 | 21 | 2 | 7.00 |
Nepal Women Bowling (vs USA)
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manisha Upadhayay | 3 | 13 | 1 | 4.33 |
| Kabita Kunwar | 2 | 11 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Puja Mahato | 1 | 9 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Somu Bist | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13.00 |
| Riya Sharma | 2.5 | 25 | 0 | 8.82 |
| Indu Barma | 2 | 18 | 1 | 9.00 |
USA’s bowling attack was the defining feature of this match. Sainavi Kamabalapalli’s opening spell 4 overs for just 9 runs choked Nepal in the powerplay and set the tone. Maahi Madhavan was the pick of the wicket-takers with 2/16 in 4 overs, while Ritu Singh’s two late wickets (2/21) ensured Nepal couldn’t produce a dangerous finish. For Nepal, Manisha Upadhayay provided the only quality spell, but the rest of the attack struggled for control in the death overs, conceding at over 9 runs per over.
Key Moments & Tactical Analysis
Toss Impact: Nepal won the toss and elected to bat a decision that backfired heavily. The wicket at Gahanga appeared to offer early movement, and Nepal’s fragile top order was unable to handle the USA pace and spin combination. Batting first in overcast conditions on a used surface proved difficult.
Powerplay Momentum: USA struck in the very first ball of the match, dismissing Samjhana Khadka for a golden duck. By the end of 10 overs, Nepal were a struggling 20/3. The powerplay was almost entirely dominated by USA’s bowlers, with Nepal’s openers and top-order batters unable to find timing or fluency.
Turning Point: Rubi Poddar’s lone resistance kept Nepal alive, but the wicket of Indu Barma in the 17th over which left Nepal at 53/5 effectively ended any hope of posting a competitive total. USA’s disciplined bowling in the middle overs (overs 11–16) conceded less than 4 runs per over, strangling Nepal completely.
Captaincy Decisions: USA’s captain used her bowling resources wisely, rotating six bowlers across 20 overs while keeping the economy rates in check. The use of Sainavi Kamabalapalli as an early bowling option given her later role as a batting opener was a bold dual-use tactic that paid off handsomely.
Pitch & Conditions: The Gahanga pitch was slow and true but offered some grip to spinners. Lekha Shetty’s tight 3-over spell conceding just 9 runs illustrated how the surface rewarded control over pace. The overhead conditions in Kigali did not produce heavy dew, so bowling first would arguably have been the tougher choice.
Key Stats Table
| Metric | Nepal Women | USA Women |
|---|---|---|
| Total Runs | 86/6 (20 Ov) | 89/3 (11.5 Ov) |
| Extras | 4 (b1, lb2, w1) | 0 |
| Boundaries (4s) | 8 | 18 |
| Sixes (6s) | 1 | 1 |
| Run Rate | 4.30 | 7.52 |
| Powerplay Score (0–6 Ov) | ~20/3 | ~40/1 (approx.) |
| Highest Partnership | Rubi Poddar & Roma Thapa – 22* (6th wkt) | Isani Vaghela & Pooja Ganesh – 35 (3rd wkt) |
| Player of the Match | – | Isani Vaghela |
The statistical contrast between the two sides is stark. USA’s run rate of 7.52 versus Nepal’s 4.30 highlights just how dominant the chase was. USA also hit more than double the number of boundaries (18 vs 8), reflecting their aggressive intent throughout the batting innings.
Head-to-Head Analysis
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Meetings (Women) | 2 (as of April 2026) |
| USA Women Wins | 2 |
| Nepal Women Wins | 0 |
| First Meeting | April 18, 2026 – ICC Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy 2026 |
| Second Meeting | April 26, 2026 – ICC Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy 2026 |
| USA Win Margin (Match 2) | April 18: USA won by 44 runs (USA 123/6 vs NEP 79/9) |
| USA Win Margin (Match 12) | April 26: USA won by 7 wickets (NEP 86/6, USA 89/3 in 11.5 Ov) |
USA Women have a perfect 2-0 record against Nepal Women in T20I cricket. Both encounters took place at the same venue during the inaugural ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy 2026 in Kigali, making the head-to-head record entirely Rwanda-based so far. USA’s dominance across both games winning once by 44 runs and once by 7 wickets reflects a clear performance gap, though Nepal’s improvement between the two matches (86/6 vs 79/9) shows some progress.
Historical Rivalry
The United States and Nepal Women’s cricket programs are both associate members of the ICC, with their T20I histories dating back relatively recently. Nepal Women received T20I status as part of the ICC’s expansion push, and the USA Women’s program has grown significantly through domestic leagues and immigrant communities across North America.
Their first-ever T20I meeting in this tournament marked the beginning of what could become a meaningful rivalry in Associate women’s cricket. Both nations are targeting T20 World Cup qualification, and with the ICC pushing hard to expand women’s cricket globally, USA vs Nepal fixtures will likely become a regular part of the associate calendar. The tournament itself — the inaugural ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy was a landmark event in associate cricket history, hosted by Rwanda and featuring five regional representatives.
USA’s dominance in this inaugural head-to-head reflects their deeper talent pool and more structured domestic cricket ecosystem. However, Nepal’s Rubi Poddar and Kabita Kunwar showed the individual quality within the squad. As both programs mature, this rivalry has the potential to grow into one of the more competitive match-ups at the Associate level.
Read Also: Scotland National Cricket Team Vs Nepal National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
Conclusion
This victory reinforced the United States National Cricket Team’s dominance in the ICC Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy 2026. The United States National Cricket Team Vs Nepal National Cricket Team Match Scorecard reflects a near-perfect all-round display disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and a composed, confident chase. For Nepal, Rubi Poddar’s spirited half-century was the lone bright spot, but systemic top-order fragility and loose bowling in the death proved too costly.
USA went on to be crowned inaugural champions of the Women’s Challenge Trophy, while Nepal finished as runners-up a creditable effort from a developing side. Both teams will be looking ahead to the 2027 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualification pathway, where performances at events like this will define their long-term ambitions.
❓FAQs
What was the final score?
Nepal Women scored 86/6 in 20 overs. USA Women chased it down in 11.5 overs for 89/3, winning by 7 wickets.
Who was Player of the Match?
Isani Vaghela of USA Women won the Player of the Match award for her unbeaten 35 off 29 balls.
Who scored the most runs?
Rubi Poddar of Nepal top-scored with 51* off 51 balls. For USA, Isani Vaghela was the top scorer with an unbeaten 35.
Who took the most wickets?
Maahi Madhavan and Ritu Singh both took 2 wickets each for USA Women.
What was the turning point?
The dismissal of Indu Barma in the 16th over left Nepal at 53/5, removing any chance of a competitive total. In the chase, Pooja Ganesh’s blistering 20 off 8 balls effectively ended the match as a contest.
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