With three runs required off six balls, Elysa Hubbard swept Sophie Jerome to the boundary to seal a chase of 86 against Tanzania in the final of the Hong Kong Women’s T20I Series.

Earlier in the day, Mariko Hill picked up five wickets in a ten-ball spell, including the prize scalp of Monica Pascal who top-scored with 42. Hill deservedly won the Player-of-the-final award for her first-ever career five-for, dedicating her award to the late Anita Miles, former HKCC Chairperson Rodney Miles and her mother who flew down from Osaka, Japan to witness the final.

The morning game saw Nepal defeat Japan by 45 runs to claim third place.

Hong Kong, China vs Tanzania

After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Hong Kong picked up an early wicket when opposition skipper Fatuma Kibasu hit Iqra Sahar straight to Emma Lai at cover.

Ruchitha Venkatesh took an impressive high catch to end a 24-run partnership, allowing Alison Siu to dismiss Saum Mtae for the second time in as many days.

Brought back for the 11^th over of the innings, Iqra Sahar responded with two more wickets, including Neema Pius who was caught behind by Lemon Cheung.

Pascal swung Maryam Bibi into the leg side for one of her six fours, propelling Tanzania to 76 for five after 16 overs.

Mariko, however, dashed any hopes of a Tanzanian fight back. Two of her five wickets included near perfect outswingers, which Perice Kamunya and Jerome could only nick through to Cheung behind the wickets.

In reply, Hong Kong lost Mariko Hill in just the second over to a first-ball duck when she cut Neema Pius to Mtae at gully. Natasha Miles and Shanzeen Shahzad stabilized the innings with a 34-run stand before the latter missed a straight delivery from Sheila Kizito that kept low. Kary Chan (6) and Natasha Miles (27) were next to go with Miles hitting a long hop straight to Pascal in the covers.

Walking in with Hong Kong on 54 for four after 13 overs, Maryam Bibi came out swinging, smashing a four past Hudaa Omary at mid on.

Emma Lai tried to go aerial, but could only manage to find the safe hands of Mtae as Tanzania continued to turn the screws.

Fortunately for the home side, Bibi was dropped twice in the last three overs, collecting four bonus runs in the process.

Moreover, a pair of wides in the penultimate over allowed Hong Kong to go into the final over with three required to win.

In spite of being new at the crease, Elysa Hubbard hit the winning boundary into deep square leg to spark wild celebrations from the crowd and the Hong Kong dugout.

Brief Scores:

Hong Kong, China 86/5 in 19.1 Overs (Miles 27, Bibi 17*, Aisha Mohamed 2-9) beat Tanzania 84/10 in 18.4 Overs (Pascal 42, Hill 5-2, Sahar 3-21) by 5 Wickets

Nepal vs Japan

Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Japan lost Sita Rana Magar early when she was trapped in front by leg-spinner Erika Toguchi-Quinn from around the wicket.

17-year-old Puja Mahato, who would go onto claim the Player-of-the-match award, stitched together two useful partnerships with Indu Barma and Rubina Chhetry. Even after the latter was run out by a direct hit from Mai Yanagida, Mahato continued to up the scoring rate, smashing a four down the ground before sweeping another boundary to deep square leg.

Despite perishing in the penultimate over, she set the platform for Nepal’s eventual total of 115 for five.

Chasing 5.8 runs per over to win, Japan were never really in with a chance. To their credit, they did not lose any wickets in the first half of their innings, scoring at approximately 3.5 runs an over until Sangita Rai bowled Hinase Goto for 16 from around the wicket.

This allowed Nepal to break open the floodgates. Skipper Indu Barma removed her opposite number Yanagida with a ball that pitched on a good length and clipped the top of off. A direct hit from Rai dismissed Ahilya Chandel before Sita Rana Magar squared up Akari Nishimura with a delivery that bowled her.

Despite ending on 70 for six, skipper Yanagida hailed her team’s effort to bat out their overs and register their highest score of the tournament.

Brief Scores:

Nepal 115/5 in 20 Overs (Mahato 43, Toguchi-Quinn 1-17) beat Japan 70/6 in 20 Overs (Nishimura 29, Barma 1-7, Dangol 1-7) by 45 Runs