Nepal women's cricket team failed to qualify for the Asian Games after a five-wicket defeat against China in the third-place play-off of the Asian Games Women's T20I Qualifier in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Rain reduced the match to seven overs per side after Nepal had slipped to 7 for 3 in 1.4 overs. Nepal recovered to 50 for 5, but China were set a revised DLS target of 43. They reached 45 for 5 from seven overs, sealing victory with a boundary off the final ball.
Cai Yuzhi held her nerve at the finish. China needed two runs from the last delivery, and she struck a four to complete the chase. She remained unbeaten on 11 from 13 balls.
Captain Mingyue Zhu set up China's chase with 18 from 13 balls, hitting three fours. Riya Sharma gave Nepal hope with a tight spell of 2 for 3 from two overs, but China crossed the line in the final moment.
Earlier, Nepal made a poor start after being asked to bat. Puja Mahato scored 1, Samjhana Khadka made 5, and Rubi Poddar was out for a duck. Indu Barma added 11 from eight balls before Kabita Kunwar lifted the total with an unbeaten 22 from 10 balls, including one four and one six.
Ma Ruike led China's bowling with 2 for 5 from two overs. Zhu and Zhao Yihan picked up one wicket each.
The result marked China's first win over Nepal in the format. Nepal had beaten China earlier in the group stage, but the play-off defeat ended their qualification hopes.
Nepal had featured whenever women's cricket was part of the Asian Games since 2010, but will miss out this time.
