Team Bhutan made a dream start to the Lotus Cup Women’s T20I Tri-Series 2026, defeating higher-ranked Malaysia by three wickets in a thrilling opening match at the Gelephu International Cricket Ground today. Bhutan, Hong Kong (China), and Malaysia, are competing in the Lotus Cup 2026.
Winning the toss, Bhutan opted to field first and set the tone early. Captain Anju Gurung struck in the very first over, signaling the hosts’ intent against the ICC 26th ranked Malaysian side.
Bhutan’s bowlers then delivered a disciplined performance, taking regular wickets and restricting the more experienced Malaysian team to just 98 runs, well below expectations.
Chasing a modest target of 99, Bhutan began positively, finding boundaries early. However, Malaysia fought back with timely wickets, and by the 11th over, Bhutan had reached half the target but had already lost four wickets.
Just as a partnership between Anju Gurung and Sonam Choden was gaining momentum, the Bhutan captain was bowled out in the 14th over, shifting pressure back onto the hosts.
Sonam Choden continued to anchor the chase and brought Bhutan within touching distance of victory, but her dismissal at 92 runs left the match finely poised.
With four runs needed from the final over, Ritshi Choden stepped in calmly. After rotating the strike with singles, she struck a crucial boundary to seal a memorable three-wicket victory for Bhutan.
Captain Anju Gurung said, “Our motive was to give our best and believe in ourselves and the team. We were not worried about the opponent or their rankings. We focused on executing what we learned in training, and I’m happy it worked today.”
Gelephu is hosting a major international women’s cricket series for the first time.
Damber Singh Gurung, CEO of Bhutan Cricket said, “The idea is to build strong teams and steadily move up. We are targeting the World Cup, even if it takes about five years. It’s a process, and from this year we will be bringing in foreign coaches who will work closely with our national players throughout the year.”
For now, the win gives Bhutan a strong start to the tri-series and a major confidence boost against a higher-ranked opponent. The Lotus Cup continues tomorrow, with Malaysia set to face Hong Kong, China.
Passang Dorji/Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
