Nepal bowed out of the ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship after losing their semifinal match against the defending champions Hong Kong by nine wickets. In the last edition of the championship, held in Malaysia in 2009, too, Nepal were thwarted in the semifinals by the same opponent.
Nepal posted 97 runs in complete 20 overs as Hong Kong opted to field after winning the toss. Nepal had a good opening partnership of 46 runs from Neera Rajopadhya and Sita Magar. Magar was bowled in the 12th over when she was on 18 runs off 38 balls.
Nepal lost their second wicket Rajopadhya when it had 59 runs on the score board. Rajopadhya scored 25 runs off 34 balls that included two boundaries. Janaki Bhatta scored 21runs while Rashmi Sharma was not out with 20 runs.
Hong Kong reached the target in 16.5 overs losing one wicket. Neisha Pratt and Connie Wong were not out on 31 and 34 runs respectively.
Rubina Chhetri took the only wicket of Hong Kong in her four-over spell conceding 18 runs. Nary Thapa was the most expensive bowler for Nepal as she gave away 29 runs in her four overs.
Hong Kong will meet China, who defeated Thailand in another semifinal match by 53 runs, in the final. Winning the toss Thailand invited China to bat first. China scored 109 off 20 overs losing six wickets. Huang Zhou was the highest scorer for china with 39 runs while Nattakan Chantham bagged 2 wickets for Thailand conceding 21 runs. Thailand were restricted at just 56 runs losing all nine wickets in 20 overs. Wang Meng took three wickets conceding two runs.