Hong Kong, China captain Kary Chan was muted in her celebrations of her first four wickets. It was a different story when she had Nonoha Yasumoto caught behind to seal the second hat trick of her T20I career, becoming the first woman to achieve the rare feat twice.

Her third career fifer, a record for Hong Kong, allowed the home side to bowl Japan out for 78 before Mariko Hill’s 40 sealed the chase in the eleventh over.

Earlier in the day, Tanzania survived a scare from Sita Rana Magar, who smashed four sixes in a blazing 43 before failing to clear Perice Kamunya at long on. Nepal were bowled out for 88, 27 runs short of Tanzania’s 115 for seven.

Tanzania vs Nepal

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Tanzania put on 17 for the first wicket before skipper Fatuma Kibasu was bowled, playing all around a full delivery from off-spinner Rubina Chhetry.

Saum Mtae pulled Sangita Rai into the leg side rope for four to pick up her first boundary, but dragged her foot out of the crease to get stumped for 16 by Kajal Shrestha. Rai would get another in the same over when Monica Pascal lobbed a catch to Indu Barma in the circle to leave the East Africans reeling at 43 for three in the tenth over.

After a flurry of boundaries, Barma held onto a tough caught and bowled chance to dismiss Aisha Mohamed for 21. However, late boundaries from Perice Kamunya, Neema Pius and Sophia Jerome propelled Tanzania to a seemingly above-par 115.

When Nepal came out for their chase, it was the same trio that wreaked havoc on their batting order.

Kamunya kicked things off, trapping Bindu Rawal in front from over the wicket. Puja Mahato — pushed up the order as regular opener Sita Rana Magar sat in the dugout icing an ankle injury she sustained in the field — was next to go getting bowled by a sharp in dipper from Pius. Pius would also run out Chhetry to reduce Nepal to 17 for five.

Walking in at number seven, Rana Magar was in no mood to give up. She slog swept Sheila Kizito into cow corner for a pair of sixes before lofting Mwanamvua Ushanga over long on for her fourth maximum.

She perished trying to take on a longer straight boundary, giving Jerome her first of three wickets in a player-of-the-match performance.

Brief Scores:

Tanzania 115/7 in 20 Overs (Hudaa Omary 25, Aisha Mohamed 21, Sangita Rai 2-16) beat Nepal 88/10 in 16.5 Overs (Sita Rana Magar 43, Jerome 3-3) by 27 Runs

Hong Kong, China vs Japan

On a day where Kary could do no wrong, she won the toss and put Japan into bat. The decision was vindicated when Iqra Sahar took three early wickets, including Ahilya Chandel and Akari Nishimura who were trapped in front of their stumps.

Opposition skipper Yanagida was especially strong through the off side, smashing Maryam Bibi through extra cover for one of her four boundaries. She also lifted captain Kary over the ropes before the home skipper dragged her length back to get her counterpart caught behind by Lemon Cheung, who affected four dismissals in total.

Losing their last five wickets for just six runs, Japan could only set Hong Kong a target of 79.

After being dropped on 5, Mariko Hill made the most of an early reprieve, smashing a Meg Ogawa full toss into square leg for four and pumping the resulting free hit onto the roof of the commentary box. She tried to repeat the dose against Shrunali Ranade, but holed out to Ruan Kanai at long on to give the off-spinner a memorable maiden wicket on her T20I debut.

By then, however, the damage was done. Hong Kong romped home with 56 balls and nine wickets to spare.

Brief Scores:

Hong Kong 79/1 in 10.4 Overs (Mariko Hill 40, Natasha Miles 21*, Ranade 1-5) beat Japan 78/10 in 19.5 Overs (Yanagida 32, Kary Chan 5-10, Sahar 3-10) by 9 Wickets