Nepal national women’s volleyball team strengthened their bid for reaching the final of the Asian Central Zone Volleyball Challenge Cup with a comfortable win over Bangladesh in Dhaka on Saturday.

The defending champions defeated the hosts in straight sets of 25-5, 25-15, 25-17 to register their third consecutive victory and stay atop the six-team standings.

Nepal have eight points after three matches while Uzbekistan sit in the second position with six points. Teams securing the top two finishes at the end of the group stage will compete in the final.

Aruna Shahi’s team will face Uzbekistan in the fourth match on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the men’s team succumbed to their second defeat after losing to Sri Lanka 18-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-25.

The result means their chances of qualifying for the final have become slim after managing only three points from three matches. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka lead the table with six points each.