Kathmandu: Nepal registered their first win of the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier with a six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in their third match on Saturday, keeping their hopes of advancing to the next stage alive—albeit by a thread.

Invited to bat first at the TU Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur, Zimbabwe were restricted to 129-6 before Nepal chased down the target with three balls to spare, finishing on 133-4, thanks to an unbeaten half-century from vice-captain Puja Mahato.

The victory earned Nepal two points in Group ‘B’, placing them fourth in the five-team standings. With only the top three teams progressing to the Super Six, Nepal must defeat Scotland by a significant margin in their final group-stage match on Monday to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The Netherlands, already assured of a Super Six berth, sit atop the standings on six points with three wins from as many matches. Scotland are second, while Thailand occupy third place, both on four points from three games. Zimbabwe were already eliminated from contention and bowed out of the group stage after losing all four matches.

Player of the match Puja Mahato struck an unbeaten 52 off 50 deliveries, hitting four boundaries and two sixes to register her third T20I half-century. Captain Indu Barma chipped in with 22 off 23 balls, including two boundaries and a six, before being bowled by Josephine Nkomo.

Opener Bindu Rawal scored 15 off 17 balls before falling leg before wicket to Cristabel Chatonzwa. Sita Rana Magar (11) retired hurt, Samjhana Khadka added nine runs while Rubina Chhetri remained not out on two.

For Zimbabwe, Josephine Nkomo picked up two wickets, while Nomvelo Sibanda and Cristabel Chatonzwa claimed one apiece.

Earlier, Zimbabwe middle-order batter Kelis Ndhlovu top-scored with an unbeaten 52 off 36 balls, striking eight boundaries. Opener Beloved Biza contributed 34 off 35 deliveries, laced with four boundaries, while Modester Mupachikwa (14) was the only other batter to reach double figures.

Nepal’s Riya Sharma led the bowling effort with figures of 2-25 from four overs, while Kabila Kunwar, Puja Mahato, Sita Rana Magar and Rubina Chhetri claimed a wicket each.

From Group ‘A’, Bangladesh have already qualified for the Super Six after winning all four of their group-stage matches. Ireland, USA, Papua New Guinea and Namibia remain in contention for the remaining two spots.

The top three teams from each group advance to the Super Six, with the top four sides from that stage qualifying for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup finals.