An all round performance by captain Rubina Chhetry inspired Nepal to a seven-wicket victory over hosts Malaysia in the second T20I as they levelled the five-match Twenty20 International bilateral series 1-1 at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi, Malaysia, on Tuesday.

Opting to bat first, Malaysia posted 97-5 in their allotted 20 overs before Nepal made 103-3 in 17.3 overs. Captain Chhetry grabbed two wickets with the ball and then scored 29 runs, the highest of the game.

In the tournament opener on Monday, Nepal had gone down to Malaysia by five wickets after they were bowled out for a meagre score of 50 runs.

Malaysian captain Mas Elysa scored a 34-ball 28, the highest of the innings, before the number three batter was trapped leg before wicket Chhetry. She also clean bowled opener Winifred Duraisingam for 20 runs scored off 28 balls.

The other opener Wan Julia contributed 20 runs off 35 balls. Asmina Karmacharya caught her off Indu Barma’s bowling.

Chasing the target, Nepali openers Kabita Kunwar scored 26 runs off 43 balls and Sita Rana Magar contributed 23 off 22. Rana Magar cracked two boundaries and a six before being bowled by Nik Nur Atiela. Kunwar, who hit two fences, was dismissed in the 12th over, becoming the third wicket to fall.

Bindu Rawal contributed 17 runs off 18 deliveries before getting out. Captain Chhetry, coming in to bat at number four, played a quickfire knock of 29 off 21 balls and remained unbeaten. She struck three hits to the boundary along with a six.

Malaysian bowler Aisya Eleesa, Nik Nur Atiela and Winifred Duraisingam picked up a wicket each.

The third match of the series will be played on Thursday.