Bangkok, Feb 17 (.) India A secured a place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Nepal in their final Group A match at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday.
Bowling first, India A bundled out Nepal for just 78 in 18 overs, led by a brilliant spell from Tanuja Kanwar, who claimed four wickets. India A chased down the target in only 7.5 overs to seal the win comfortably, as per Olympics.com.
The victory took the defending champions to the top of Group A with four points from three matches and a Net Run Rate of plus 3.042. After suffering a surprise defeat to the UAE in their opener, captain Radha Yadav’s side bounced back strongly with successive wins over Pakistan A and Nepal to confirm their place in the knockouts.
India struck early after opting to field, with Minnu Mani removing Bindu Rawal in the fifth over. The Indian spinners dominated proceedings thereafter, accounting for nine of Nepal’s ten wickets, with Minnu Mani finishing with 3/8 and Radha Yadav taking two scalps.
Samjhana Khadka top-scored for Nepal with 22, but the rest of the batting line-up failed to offer resistance.
In reply, India A lost an early wicket, but Vrinda Dinesh remained unbeaten on 39 off just 18 balls to guide the team home with ease despite losing a couple of wickets at the other end.
India A will next play in the semi-finals on Friday.
Organised by the Asian Cricket Council, the tournament was first held in 2023 as the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, which India had won by defeating Bangladesh in the final.
. VAN ARN