Nepal upset Hong Kong with seven-wicket victory

Chan Sau Har claimed two wickets for Hong Kong but her efforts were in vein as they slumped to a seven wicket loss to Nepal © HKCA

Hong Kong's campaign at the ACC Women's Cricket Tournament suffered a setback when they slumped to a shock seven-wicket loss to Nepal in their third group match at the Johor Cricket Academy ground today.

Winning the toss and batting, Hong Kong were rocked early when they lost their skipper and star player Neisha Pratt in the third over with only six runs on the board. From then on, the Hong Kong innings never moved out of first gear as the inexperience of the remaining batsmen on grass wickets and their reliance on the prodigious Pratt, soon told. They struggled against the tight bowling by Nepal and wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Only Keenu Gill, batting at number three, offered any resistance against the relentless Nepal attack. But when she fell, LBW for 10, just before the drinks break, Hong Kong was in serious trouble at 25-5. The Hong Kong lower order, having not batted in any previous matches, could not be expected to save Hong Kong and the remaining six wickets could only add another six runs - Hong Kong all out for a dismal 31 in 23.5 overs.

Credit must go to the Nepal team who bowled and fielded brilliantly throughout. Their bowlers only allowed one extra delivery, a no-ball, in the entire innings. Nepal's skipper Nary Thapa claimed 3-5 from her six overs while Neera Rajaoadhya picked up 3-4 in 5.5 overs in a superb performance.

In reply, the Nepal openers of Ritu Kanoujiya and Manisha Rawal put together a small but significant opening stand of 10. At the halfway mark, the total was only 14 but wickets were still in hand. A second wicket partnership of 19 runs took Nepal to the brink of an upset victory and although Hong Kong's Chan Sau Har grabbed two late wickets, the Nepal women were not to be denied a famous win, when Nary Thapa hit a boundary to score the winning runs. Of the other batters, Manisha Rawal hit a patient 10 from 73 balls while Madu Thapa contributed 11 from 24 balls.

Nepal achieved their victory in the 23.5 overs to finish top of Group A. They will now meet China in the first semi-final to be played at JCA on 17 July while Hong Kong will face the undefeated Bangladesh Women at IPTI in the second semi-final on the same day.

Bangladesh continued their dominant form in the tournament as they thrashed China in today's other match. Bangladesh batted first and scored 108 from 29.5 overs. They then bowled China out for 22 in 21 overs to win by 86 runs.