Nepal women’s cricket team have a last shot remaining for the 2026 Asian Games after they lost to the hosts Malaysia in a semifinal fixture of the qualifier event at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday.

Topping Group B with wins over China and Indonesia, Nepal were facing Malaysia, the second-placed team of Group A, in the semifinal. Thailand, the topper of Group A, faced China, the second-positioned team in Group B, in the other semifinal.

Of the six teams participating in the qualifier, three are qualifying for the Asian Games in Japan. After the win over Nepal and China in the semifinals on Saturday, Malaysia and Thailand have secured their berths at the biggest multi-sport event of Asia.

Nepal had entered the Bayuemas Oval as the favourites against Malaysia. Nepal had clean-swept a friendly series of two T20Is with the hosts before the qualifier event on May 20 and 22.

However, when the duo came face to face in the semifinal on Saturday, the home side was victorious.

Nepal’s captain Indu Barma had won the toss and elected to bat first. Puja Mahato opened with Samjhana Khadka, who departed at 2 off 3 as the first wicket in the third over.

Mahato showed promise with two fours but got caught out at 15 off 23 in the sixth over. Sony Pakhrin (6 off 8) and Rubi Poddar (17 off 22) could also not contribute sufficiently.

Nepal’s batting order was on the verge of collapse. But it did not happen, thanks to the skipper and Kabita Kunwar. Barma stayed not out at 46 off 41, while Kunwar smashed 33 off 15 as Nepal posted 126/6, their joint highest-ever total against Malaysia.

Previously, Nepal had posted 126/5 against Malaysia during the T20 World Cup Regional Qualifier on February 19, 2019. Nepal had won it by 34 runs.

Saturday’s meeting was the 19th T20I between Nepal and Malaysia. And Malaysia registered their seventh win over Nepal as they chased the target with two wickets and eight balls remaining.

And it was again Elsa Hunter who denied Nepal a safe passage to a happy ending.

Hunter, with an unbeaten 69 off 53, had helped Malaysia defeat Nepal in the final of the 2024 ACC Women’s Premier Cup. Hunter was caught behind on Saturday, but not before wreaking havoc, blasting 48 off 24.

Hunter has 859 T20I runs for Malaysia in 55 matches (52 innings), and Nepal are her favourite opponent. Among the 19 opponents Hunter has faced for Malaysia, she has scored the most runs against Nepal.

Hunter has scored 184 runs in seven matches against Nepal, followed by 127 runs in five games against Singapore and 110 runs in eight games against the UAE.

Meanwhile, Dhanusri Muhunan (21 off 29), Ainna Hamizah Hashim (18 off 18) and Mahirah Izzati Ismail (14 off 18) also contributed with the bat for Malaysia in the win over Nepal. Wan Julia (6 off 4) completed the chase by hitting Sita Rana Magar for a four at 18.4 overs.

A win over Malaysia would not only have ensured Nepal’s qualification for the Asian Games, but the team would also have been facing Thailand for the trophy of the qualifier.

However, Nepal will now face China for the third spot and aim to grab the only remaining ticket to Japan, where five other teams—Japan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka—have been waiting.

Nepal have never lost to China in their last three encounters. The match kicks off on Sunday at 7:15 am Nepali time.