Nepal suffers nine-wicket defeat against Hong Kong

KATHMANDU: Nepal suffered a nine-wicket loss against Hong Kong in the Women’s T20 Quadrangular series in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Batting first, Nepal scored 56 runs, losing all wickets in 18 overs. Hong Kong overcame the target losing one wicket with 66 balls to spare.

This is Nepal’s second defeat in the series. In its first match of the series, Nepal suffered a 27-run defeat against Tanzania.

Nepal made a poor start in the match against Hong Kong, as opener Puja Mahato was run out in the second over with just four runs on the board. Nepal lost three wickets in the third over as Iqra Sahar claimed her hat-trick. Nepal couldn’t recover from the setback and folded for 56 runs. Only Rubina Chhetry, who scored 25 runs from 30 balls, reached double digits for Nepal. Three Nepali batters were out on duck.

Sahar took three wickets for Hong Kong, while Ruchita Venkatesh claimed two wickets, and Betty Chan, Mariko Hill, and Kary Chan chipped in with a wicket each.

Hong Kong chased the target with ease although opener Mariko Hill was run out in the second over of the game. Hill scored five runs. Natasha Miles scored an unbeaten 30 runs from 23 balls, while Shanzeen Shahzad scored 20 not out facing 27 balls. Nepal will play its next match against Japan on Saturday, while Hong Kong takes on Tanzania on the same day.