From Early Collapse to Commanding Win: USA Women Outclass Nepal
United States of America Women delivered a solid, workmanlike performance to defeat Nepal Women by a comfortable margin in the ICC Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium in Kigali on Saturday.
After being put in to bat, the USA didn’t get off to the start they would have hoped for. Losing two wickets in the opening over—Sainavi Kamabalapalli and Isani Vaghela both departing almost immediately—left them reeling at 2 for 2. It was the kind of start that can derail an innings, but instead, it brought out a measured and composed response.
Chetna Pagydyala and Pooja Ganesh came together to steady things, showing patience against a disciplined Nepal attack. The pair focused on rebuilding rather than taking risks, guiding the team through a quiet powerplay. Their partnership gradually gained shape, and by the halfway mark, the USA had reached 50 with a platform in place. Pagydyala’s 30 off 37 balls was an innings built on control, while Ganesh’s 47 from 49 deliveries anchored the effort and held everything together.
Once that foundation was laid, Gargi Bhogle added a timely burst of energy. Her 34 off 27 balls, highlighted by five boundaries, lifted the scoring rate when it mattered most. Although the USA lost a few wickets late—including a couple of run-outs—they still managed to post a competitive total of 123 for 6.
Nepal’s bowlers had their moments, particularly early on. Manisha Upadhayay stood out with two wickets and maintained good control, while Kabita Kunwar and Riya Sharma picked up one each. Still, the inability to break the central partnership earlier proved costly.
Chasing 124, Nepal needed a steady start but instead found themselves under immediate pressure. The USA bowlers struck early and often, reducing Nepal to 23 for 4 inside the powerplay. From there, the innings never quite recovered.
Bindu Rawal tried to hold things together with a patient 27 off 45 balls, but the lack of support from the rest of the lineup made the task increasingly difficult. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, and scoring never really got going. At 36 for 6 by the 10th over, the game had already slipped well out of reach.
Kabita Joshi’s 11 was the only other contribution of note, but by then, the required rate had climbed too high. Nepal eventually closed on 79 for 9, well short of the target.
The USA bowling attack deserves plenty of credit for the result. Maahi Madhavan and Taranum Chopra picked up two wickets each, while Aditi Chudasama, Ritu Singh, Lekha Shetty, and Kamabalapalli all chipped in. It was a complete team effort—disciplined, consistent, and effective.
