USA progress to Super Six stage with win over Papua New Guinea

The USA claimed the final Super Six spot on offer at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026 with a five-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea.

Ireland secured second spot in Group A by beating Namibia while in Group B, hosts Nepal were eliminated after defeat to Scotland, ensuring Thailand went through despite losing to the Netherlands.

USA prevail in winner-takes-all clash

Both Papua New Guinea and the USA sat on two points going into this decisive clash and PNG batted first.

Konio Oala struck two sixes in her 41 from 40 balls but the American bowlers kept a handle on their opponents, with Tara Norris conceding just 12 in her four overs and Isani Vaghela similarly economical, just 14 coming off her four.

Pauke Siaka injected some late momentum with her 26 as PNG finished on 110 for five, Lekha Shetty taking three for 27.

Chetna Pagydyala and Gargi Bhogle got the reply off to a strong start, adding 69 for the first wicket before Bhogle fell for 35 in the 12th over.

Pagydyala followed for 32 to Dika Lohia, who took two for seven as the USA stumbled towards the line. But they had wickets in hand and Ritu Singh’s unbeaten 13 helped them home with two overs to spare, continuing their participation in the competition at PNG’s expense.

Prendergast leads Ireland chase

Orla Prendergast impressed as Ireland made it three wins from four with a comfortable sevent-wicket win over Namibia, who bow out without a victory to their name.

Both Namibian openers fell for ducks, but Kayleen Green (32) and Wilka Mwatile (28) helped repair the damage.

They each fell to Lara McBride (3/17), while Jane Maguire chipped in with three for 31 as Namibia finished on 107 for eight.

Ireland lost Rebecca Stokell early in their reply, but Prendergast and Gaby Lewis added 59 for the second wicket.

Captain Lewis fell for 33 before Prendergast retired out on 39 from 28 balls, with six fours and a six. Leah Paul added an unbeaten 27 as Ireland reached their target with 5.4 overs remaining.

Scotland overpower Nepal

A fine performance with the ball saw Scotland record a 72-run win over Nepal which ended the hosts’ Super Six ambitions.

Scotland batted first and lost both openers in the first over, and they were 17 for three when captain Kathryn Bryce became a third scalp for Manisha Upadhayay (4/17).

Rubina Chhetry also impressed with three for 23 and Scotland needed a fine innings from Priyanaz Chatterji, who struck seven fours in her 45 not out from 28 balls, to steer them to 140, the 10th wicket falling from the last ball of the final over.

Nepal’s reply never got going and a particularly damaging spell saw them slip from 40 for three to 45 for six, all but ending their chances.

Abtaha Maqsood was the pick of the attack with three for 14 while Bryce and Katherine Fraser took two wickets apiece as the hosts were bowled out for 68 in the 14th over.

Netherlands continue unbeaten run

The Netherlands wrapped up top spot in Group B with a 17-run win over Thailand, who will join them in the Super Six.

Captain Babette De Leede’s run-a-ball 47 was integral to her side’s 107 for eight, Iris Zwilling adding an ultimately invaluable unbeaten 17 from number nine. Sunida Chaturongrattana led the Thai attack with three for 24.

Zwilling then began with a double wicket maiden to leave Thailand’s chase floundering but Natthakan Chantham (26) and skipper Naruemol Chaiwai (33) gave them a fighting chance.

The run rate kept climbing, however, with Zwilling finishing on three for nine from her four overs and Isabel Van Der Woning taking four for 14, and Thailand were bowled out for 90.

Scores in brief

USA v Papua New Guinea – Mulpani Cricket Ground, Kathmandu

Papua New Guinea 110/5 in 20 overs (Konio Oala 41, Pauke Siaka 26; Lekha Shetty 3/27, Tara Morris 1/12)

USA 111/5 in 18 overs (Gargi Bhogle 35, Chetna Pagydyala 32; Dika Lohia 2/7, Henao Thomas 1/20)

Result: USA win by five wickets

Namibia v Ireland – Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur

Namibia 107/8 in 20 overs (Kayleen Green 32, Wilka Mwatile 28; Lara McBride 3/17, Jane Maguire 3/31)

Ireland 110/3 in 14.2 overs (Orla Prendergast 39, Gaby Lewis 33; Wilka Mwatile 1/8, Saima Tuhadeleni 1/21)

Result: Ireland win by seven wickets

Nepal v Scotland – Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur

Scotland 140 all out in 20 overs (Priyanaz Chatterji 45 not out, Ailsa Lister 22; Manisha Upadhayay 4/17, Rubina Chhetry 3/23)

Nepal 68 all out in 13.5 overs (Roma Thapa 14 not out, Bindu Rawal 14; Abtaha Maqsood 3/14, Katherine Fraser 2/11)

Result: Scotland win by 72 runs

Netherlands v Thailand – Mulpani Cricket Ground, Kathmandu

Netherlands 107/8 in 20 overs (Babette De Leede 47, Iris Zwilling 17 not out; Sunida Chaturongrattana 3/24, Phannita Maya 2/22)

Thailand 90 all out in 20 overs (Naruemol Chaiwai 33, Natthakan Chantham 26; Isabel Van Der Woning 4/14, Iris Zwilling 3/9)

Result: Netherlands win by 17 runs

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