Nepal’s dismal performance in the ACC Women’s Asia Cup continued on Thursday as they lost to fellow Associates Thailand by eight wickets at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok, Thailand.

With defending champions and Test giants India awaiting next in their last league game, Nepal are now all but certain to return home finishing as the bottom team in the five-nation tournament. After failing to put team total in triple figures in their first three matches, the match against the hosts provided Nepal an opportunity to show some grit but batting collapsed once again as they were bundled out for 63 in 19.5 overs.  

Nepal had crashed to low totals of 47 (against Pakistan), 23 (against Sri Lanka) and 41 (against Bangladesh) in the first three matches. Thailand, who recently beat Nepal in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifying Series for Asia Region twice, reached the target in just 16 overs. The result meant Nepal’s losing streak against Thailand stretched to seven matches. They had last beaten Thailand in the 2011 ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship. 

Openers Nattakan Chantam and Sirintra Saengsakaorat set the foundation for Thailand victory notching up a 46-run stand. Saengsakaorat remained unbeaten on 45-ball 27 with a four, while Chantam hit two boundaries in her 41-ball 39 before losing her wicket to Sarita Magar, who returned the figures of 2-13 from three overs. 

Earlier, Nepal failed to build on a modest 30-run opening wicket partnership between Jyoti Pandey and Sita Rana Magar before the whole team was once again sent packing for double figures. Pandey top scored for Nepal with 16 off 26 balls with two hits to the fence, while Sita was their next best contributor with nine runs from 21 balls. 

Skipper Rubina Chhetri (eight) and Nary Thapa (seven) were other top scorers for Nepal. Sornnarin Tippoch (2-5) and Suleeporn Laomi (2-7) shared four wickets for Thailand, who are one spot above Nepal in the points table following their only victory of the tournament so far. 

Nepal’s match against India is scheduled for Friday. India on Thursday hammered Sri Lanka by 52 runs to remain unbeaten in the tournament. They lead the table with eight points with probable finalists Pakistan behind them on six after completion of four round matches.