“We are heading to Uganda aiming for the quadrangular series title,” Nepali women’s cricket team head coach Manoj Katwal told the Post during the team’s farewell in Kathmandu on March 5. Alongside Katwal, the whole squad was confident; but they all failed to realise their dream in Uganda.

Based on ICC’s Women’s Team T20I ranking, Nepal were the third-best team in the series comprising Uganda, Hong Kong and Namibia. Namibia ranks highest (17th) followed by Uganda (18th) while Nepal and Hong Kong rank 21st and 22nd, respectively.

However, Nepal registered their fourth loss in five games on Thursday losing to the hosts. Uganda defeated Nepal by 40 runs restricting the visitors to their third lowest total ever in T20Is.

The lowest total for the Nepali women’s side has been 50, once against Bangladesh in 2019 and the other against Malaysia in 2023. Their third-lowest (56 runs) was against Hong Kong in 2023, but it was bettered by Uganda on March 13 at Entebbe Cricket Oval.

Nepal were bundled out at 51 runs in 17.1 overs while chasing 92 against Uganda.

“We did not play our best cricket, and I did not take the responsibility from the front,” Nepal’s skipper Indu Barma said in the post-match conference. “In the middle order as well, we did not execute the plan.”

Only two Nepali batters—Barma (11 off 12) and Kabita Joshi (12 off 27)—scored in double figures. Nepal had started well against Uganda with the ball as the two openers were sent back within the second over. However, a 50-run third-wicket partnership between Esther Iloku and Rita Musamali brought Uganda back and aided to put up a defending total.

Nepal will play their final league-stage game of the double round-robin format tournament against Hong Kong on Friday. Nepal were defeated by 2 runs by Hong Kong in the last fixture.

Hong Kong would qualify for the final with a win over Nepal as first- and second-placed Namibia and Uganda are facing off the same day in their last fixture of the league structure. Namibia, Uganda and Hong Kong have six points from five games each, with three wins and two losses each, while Nepal are at the bottom with two points from one win. Nepal’s only win had come against Uganda when they met on March 9.