Nepal Women vs United States of America Women
Date: April 18, 2026
Match Summary
The United States of America Women defeated Nepal Women by 44 runs in the 2nd match of the ICC Women's T20I Challenge Trophy 2026. Pooja Ganesh top-scored for the USA with 47 runs, while Maahi Madhavan and Taranum Chopra took two wickets each to restrict Nepal's chase. Nepal's Bindu Rawal was their top scorer with 27 runs. The player of the match was Pooja Ganesh for her impactful innings and crucial role in the field.
Detailed Narrative
The match was held at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Kigali City, where Nepal Women won the toss and elected to bowl first. The United States of America Women set a competitive total of 123/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Pooja Ganesh played a crucial role with her knock of 47 runs off 49 balls, hitting three boundaries, and maintained a strike rate of 95.92. She was well supported by Gargi Bhogle, who contributed a quickfire 34 runs from 27 deliveries, featuring five fours.
In response, Nepal Women struggled to build partnerships and ended up scoring only 79/9 in their innings. Bindu Rawal was the highest scorer for Nepal with a patient innings of 27 runs from 45 balls, but she lacked support from the other end as wickets fell at regular intervals.
The USA's bowling attack was led by Maahi Madhavan, who picked up two wickets for just 11 runs in her two-over spell, and Taranum Chopra, who also claimed two scalps while conceding only 14 runs in three overs. Their disciplined bowling performance ensured that Nepal never got ahead in the chase.
A notable moment in the field came when Pooja Ganesh executed a runout alongside Isani Vaghela, showcasing her all-round skills on the field. Additionally, Taranum Chopra's two-wicket haul was instrumental in maintaining pressure on the Nepalese batters.
In summary, it was a comprehensive victory for the United States of America Women, thanks to their strong batting performance led by Pooja Ganesh and a collective effort from their bowlers to defend their total successfully.