A record ton from Rubina Chhetry powered Nepal to the quarterfinals of the ongoing ACC Women’s T20 Premier Cup after they thrashed the Maldives by 215 runs at the UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi, Malaysia on Tuesday.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Nepal posted a mammoth target of 228 runs, equalising their highest-ever total, at a loss of four wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.

In reply, the Maldives couldn’t sustain Nepali bowling for long, getting bundled for a meagre 13 runs in 13.5 overs.

This is the highest-ever win by runs for the Nepal national team.

Earlier, Nepal had a shaky start to the innings, losing wickets early in quick succession. Nepal were reduced to 48-3 at one point after losing openers Kabita Kunwar (13) and Sita Rana Magar (15). Captain Indu Barma was also dismissed for a duck in 2.3 overs.

It was at this situation that Chhetry had stepped into the crease and started her blistering attack. She didn’t just lift the Nepali innings but also gathered some records along the way. She earned the distinction of being the first woman cricketer from the country to ever hit a century in an international match. Firing five sixes and 10 hits to the fence, Chhetry racked up an unbeaten 118 runs in 59 deliveries.

Chhetry also became the highest run-scorer for the national team in an inning, superseding Sita Rana Magar’s record of an unbeaten 82 runs against Qatar in 2021.

Chhetry received ample support from Puja Mahato, who hit five boundaries and a six, contributing an unbeaten 59 runs off 36 balls.

Mahato and Chhetry also shared the highest-ever partnership for the team putting up a 166-run stand.

Meanwhile, Asmina Karmacharya shone with the ball, picking four scalps, giving away just seven runs, while Mahato and Chhetry also grabbed three wickets each.

For the Maldives, captain Sumayya Binth Abdul managed five runs while opener Nabba Naseem and wicket keeper Hafasaa Abdhulla contributed two runs each.

None of the batters were able to score in double digits, with six getting dismissed for a duck.

With Tuesday’s win, Nepal have entered the quarterfinals of the ACC Women’s T20 Premier Cup, finishing first with three points from three wins in as many matches.

Nepal are placed in Group ‘D’ alongside Bhutan, the Maldives, and Hong Kong.