Final showdown nears at ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy
USA close in on the title, but Nepal and Rwanda remain in the hunt as the tournament heads into its decisive phase.
The inaugural ICC Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy is heading into its final stretch, with the race for the title intensifying as teams approach the business end of the competition.
Introduced by the ICC to provide greater exposure to Associate Members, the tournament features the top-ranked sides from each of the five ICC regions that did not qualify for the Emerging Nations Trophy.
Among them, the United States have emerged as the frontrunners.
Having lost just once so far, the USA head into their penultimate fixture with a chance to move to 12 points and effectively seal the inaugural title.
USA v Vanuatu | Match Highlights | ICC Women's T20 Challenge Trophy
Watch the highlights as USA beat Vanuatu by 72 runs at the ICC Women's T20I Challenge Trophy.
Their surge has been powered by standout performances from Isani Vaghela, who has been named Player of the Match in all three of their recent wins, scoring 141 runs in that stretch.
At the halfway stage, the tournament was evenly poised with a four-way tie, but the USA have since broken away with three consecutive victories. They next face Nepal, a side still very much in contention.
Nepal had stumbled with losses to Vanuatu and the USA, but bounced back strongly against the hosts, thanks to a clinical bowling display led by Manisha Upadhayay, who returned figures of 3/10. With six points and two matches remaining, Nepal remain in the race.
Rwanda v Nepal | Match Highlights | ICC Women's T20 Challenge Trophy
Watch the highlights as Nepal beat Rwanda by 38 runs at the ICC Women's T20 Challenge Trophy.
Meanwhile, hosts Rwanda sit second on the table with eight points and will take on the USA in their final game on May 1. A strong finish could still see them challenge for top honours, adding further intrigue to the closing stages.
Rwanda v Italy | Match Highlights | ICC Women's T20 Challenge Trophy
All matches are being played across the two adjoining grounds at Gahanga Cricket Stadium, with all five teams having qualified through their performances in the regional Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers in 2025.
The tournament also comes at a time of significant growth in the women’s game, with the ICC confirming an expansion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to 12 teams in 2026 and 16 teams by 2030.
Fans can catch all the action live and free on ICC.tv, with highlights available on icc-cricket.com.
ICC Women's T20I Challenge Trophy Table
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