Nepal made it all disappointed when they were defeated by Hongkong on the semi finals of the ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship 2011 by 9 wickets at KOC Kubara Ground, Kuwait today.
Nepal after winning all the matches in the group stage were confident to play its semi final match against rivals Hongkong.
Nepal lost the toss and were invited to bat first. They had a slow beginning which created average 96 runs on the scoreboard losing 2 wickets. Hongkong bowlers controlled the match from the start to the end of the innings. Every batsman got to 20s for Nepal but couldn’t convert the runs into boundaries and sixes as it’s T20 match.
Opener Neera Rajopadhyay scored 25 off 35 balls with two fours while her partner Sita Magar scored 18 off 41 balls. They had a partnership of 46 runs in 11.5 overs but weren’t at a punishing rate against some disciplined bowling. Sita was bowled off Chan Sau Ha’s bowling and Rashmi Sharma arrived at the crease hoping she could accelerate the runrate but she lost her partner Neera at 59 runs(15 overs) on the board.
Nepal was already on the backfoot as Janaki Bhatta(21 off 20 balls) and Rashmi (20 off 25 balls) together failed to finish off the inning on high score. They remained not out though scoring two boundaries each and Nepal managed just 96 runs at the end of 20 overs.
In reply, Hongkong batters slowed down the bowling and kept on scoring runs at both ends. Neither they were missing the balls nor they tried to hit the balls out of the ground. It was all patience game for them. Openers Kenu Gill made a brisk start with 17 runs off 13 balls (4 fours) before she got out for a lbw on the ball of Rubina Chhetri. Captain Neisha Pratt held the inning together with Man of the match Connie Wong 34 off 40 balls (4 fours). They together took the score to 97 runs in 16.5 overs and Hongkong won the match easily by 9 wickets.
With this win, Defending Champion Hong Kong will face China in the Friday’s final. Meanwhile, Nepal will meet Thailand for third-place playoff. This is Nepal women’s team third straight loss to Hong Kong after losing to them in semifinal two years ago and Asian Games last year.
– Nischal Tiwari and Rajesh KC for Cricnepal
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