Kuala Lumpur: Nepal faced its second defeat in the T20I series after losing to hosts Malaysia by 13 runs in the third match on Sunday.

With this result, Nepal trails 2–1 in the five-match series.

Malaysia had earlier won the opening game by three runs, while Nepal leveled the series 1–1 with a six-wicket victory in the second match.

In the third game, Malaysia set a modest target of 121 runs, but Nepal managed only 107 for eight wickets.

Opener Rubi Poddar top-scored with 31 runs off 37 balls, including two fours. She and fellow opener Samjhana Khadka shared a 41-run stand for the first wicket, with Khadka adding 18 runs.

Other contributions included Kabita Kunwar (15) and vice-captain Puja Mahato (5).

Skipper Indu Barma attempted to stabilize the innings, scoring 22 runs off 20 balls with one four, but wickets continued to fall.

Rubina Chhetri (0), Kabita Joshi (6), Yosoda Bista (7), and Somu Bista (3) all departed cheaply.

Malaysia’s Nur Dania and Elisa Firdaus claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, after winning the toss at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia posted 120 runs for four wickets in 20 overs, thanks to opener Ainna Hamizah Hashim’s half-century.

Hashim scored 61 runs off 58 balls with five fours, while Mas Elysa contributed 30 runs.

Wan Julia added 16 before being dismissed, and Mahirah Izzati Ismail remained unbeaten on 4.

Nepal’s Kabita Kunwar and Kabita Joshi took two wickets each.