Nepal suffer 7-wicket loss to Hong Kong

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, June 22: Nepal’s winning run at the ACC Women’s T20 Championship ended following a seven-wicket loss against Hong Kong in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Tuesday.

Electing to bat first at Kinrara Oval, Nepal mustered 109 runs losing six wickets in 20 overs. Hong Kong, in reply, eased to victory by scoring 112 runs in 15.5 overs with seven wickets to spare.  

The defeat meant Nepal’s top position in Group B is at risk. From four matches, Nepal has six points. Hong Kong equaled points with Nepal from three matches. 

Hong Kong can topple Nepal in the group table provided a win against Kuwait.

Mario Hill starred with her bat to lead Hong Kong to the third victory.  She cracked eight boundaries in her cameo of 32-ball 45.

Opener Hill paired with Bella Bo Yee (9) to add 28 runs for the first wicket. She, then, put up a 43-run stand with Natasha Miles for the second wicket. 

After Hill returned to dug out in the 10.1 over with 71/2 on the scoreboard, Miles cruised Hong Kong home remaining not out with 34-ball 28 knock.

Captain Chan Ka Ying Kary also chipped in with a brisk 14-ball 17. Shenzhen Shahzad (4) was also not out at the crease.

Sangita Rai picked two wickets and Sita Rana Magar dismissed one batter for Nepal.

Earlier, Skipper Rubina Chhetry Belbashi lifted Nepal’s innings by scoring not out 32 runs off 36 deliveries. 

Her batting included four boundaries. She added 44 runs with Apsari Begam for the seventh wicket to take Nepal past a hundred runs on the scoreboard. Begam clubbed two boundaries in her contribution of not out 16-ball 22.

Nepal made a medium start after Opener batter Bindu Rawal and Sita Rana Magar (9) put up the 18-run for the first wicket.  

However, Nepal lost wickets at regular intervals and Rawal became the third batter to chip in with a double-figure. She smashed four fences in her 29-ball 23 cameos.

Chan Ka Man Betty took two wickets for Hong Kong. Maryam Bibi and Elysa Kyra Hubbard claimed one wicket each.

In the other match of Group B, Kuwait notched up a three-wicket victory over Bhutan. In the Group A match, Qatar outplayed Singapore by five wickets.