For the first time in a short history of Asian Cricket Council’s women cricket, Nepal will not be competing for the title as Hong Kong register a thumping 7 wicket victory in the semifinal at the Bayemas Oval, Malaysia.
Electing to field first, Hong Kong restricted Nepal to 76/6 in 20 overs and chased the target in 16.1 overs losing just three wickets.
Nepal lost Rekha Rawal early before Neera Rajopadhyay and Maya Rawat put on a valiant fight. The pair scored very slowly early reaching only 31/1 in 10 overs.
Then onwards, they started going at freewill, netting another 31 runs in five overs. At the end of 15th over, Nepal were 62/1 and are well on the course go near 100.
But that was not a case. Neera feel to Ishita Gidwani at 28. Her knock off 47 balls included two boundaries. And, that wicket put Hong Kong back on the game.
Ritu Kanaujiya, Rashmi Sharma and Sonu Khadka failed to open their account while Nary Thapa (3) did not stay long. Neetu Thapa (3) remained unbeaten with Maya, who got 25 off 54 balls with two fours.
The final five overs yielded just 14 runs for Nepal.
Nepali bowlers could have given a fight hadn’t they bowled too many extras. Hong Kong whose score of 36/1 in 6 overs contained 12 extras.
Overall, Nepal gave away 23 extras and despite’s Nary Thapa’s another good bowling with 2/10, Hong Kong raced to the target in 16.1 overs.
Chan Sau Har got 22 off 40 while Connie Wong (15) and Emma Phippips (11 off 8 balls) took the team to the final against Thailand.
Wong, who also took 2/17, was declared player of the match.
Nepal will play China in the third-place playoff on Saturday.