Nepal are one step away from the 2024 ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup.

Indu Barma’s side progressed into the semi-finals of the ACC Women’s Premier Cup after they defeated Kuwait by eight wickets on D/L method in a rain-affected match at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi, Malaysia on Wednesday.

They face hosts Malaysia in a high stake last four clash on Friday, with the two finalists making it to the T20 Asia Cup set to take place in September this year.

Malaysia defeated Japan by 16 runs at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur.

Thailand and the United Arab Emirates face each other in the other semi-final fixture, also scheduled for Friday. Thailand beat Hong Kong by three wickets, while the UAE saw off Indonesia by 56 runs in the other quarter-finals.

Nepal, who were sent in to field first, restricted Kuwait to 73-9 in the allotted 20 overs, before chasing down a revised target of 50 runs in 6.5 overs.

Player of the match Sita Rana Magar took a hat-trick in the 13th over for a match figures of 3-11 that included the wickets of Kuwait’s top scorer and opener Priyada Murali (29), Maryam Omar and captain Amna Tariq.

Balasubramani Shanti and Khadija Khalil provided the second highest score for Kuwait, scoring 13 runs each.

Kabita Kunwar and captain Rubina Chhetry took two wickets each to

In reply, Indu Barma played 22 not out off 21 balls and Rana Magar hit 17 runs facing 15 deliveries to guide Nepal to victory.