India A beat Nepal to qualify for semi-finals

India A sealed their berth in the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 semi-finals after beating Nepal convincingly by seven wickets in their final Group A match at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday.

Fielding first, the Indian cricket team bundled out Nepal for a paltry 78 in just 18 overs thanks to Tanuja Kanwar’s 4/12. India A chased the target down in just 7.5 overs and with seven wickets to spare.

The win takes India A, the defending champions, to the top of Group A with four points from three games and a Net Run Rate of +3.042. After being shocked by UAE in the opener, Radha Yadav’s charges bounced back with wins over Pakistan A and Nepal.

With the top two teams from each of the two groups progressing to the semis, India are already guaranteed a place in the knockouts, irrespective of the result in the final Group A game between UAE and Pakistan A.

UAE are second in the group on four points from two matches and a NRR of +0.611. Pakistan A are currently third with two points from two games and a NRR of -1.012. Nepal finished bottom of the group with 0 points.

Electing to field first, India drew first blood in the fifth over with Minnu Mani having Bindu Rawal caught behind. From that point on, it was one-way traffic with the Indian spinners exerting their authority on the match.

Tanuja Kanwar almost singlehandedly ran through Nepal’s top and middle order and left them reeling at 59/5 in the 11th over after her sensational spell.

Nepal’s lower order collapsed for just 19 more. Samjhana Khadka was Nepal’s top scorer with 22.

The spinners accounted for nine of the 10 Nepal wickets in the match with Minnu Mani picking up 3/8 and captain Radha Yadav registering figures of 2/17. The remaining one was a run out.

Chasing a modest total. India lost Deeya Yadav in the very first over but Vrinda Dinesh (39 not out of 18) anchored a comfortable chase for the defending champions despite Anushka Sharma and Tejal Hasabnis being dismissed at the other end.

India A will play the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 semi-finals next on Friday.

Organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the competition’s first edition was held in 2023 as the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup. The Indian cricket team won the inaugural edition in Hong Kong China after beating Bangladesh in the final.

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