Bhutan won the toss and elected to bat

Hong Kong looked to get their first win in the T20 Smash today when they played against Bhutan at Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok. Looking to avenge the defeat against Indonesia yesterday Hong Kong made two changes with Haya Cheung and Jasmine Titmuss making way for Emma Lai and Jaswinder Kaur.
Hong Kong captain Mariko Hill and veteran Betty Chan started with the new ball and looked to make early inroads into the Bhutan lineup. Chan quickly delivered in her first over by dismissing Bhutan Opener Yeshey Choden. This brought Captain Yeshey Wangmo to the crease to partner Karma Dema. The pair battle their way through the Powerplay to get Bhutan to 15/1 after 6 overs. Kary Chan and Alison Siu were given the task of breaking the partnership but had to wait until the 10th over when Alison Siu clean bowled Wangmo for 15 to leave Bhutan 26/2.
Dechen Wangmo then joined Dema at the crease and got off to a quick start by hitting Siu for 4 over Mid Off’s head. Wangmo and Dema continued to play positively down the ground and pressure the Hong Kong fielders with some quick singles. The prompted a change in bowling with Ruchitha Venkatesh coming on to bowl with Mehreen Yousaf. Bhutan dug in and looked keep fighting as Hong Kong missed a runout chance with Shahzad unable to collect the ball off a pinpoint throw from Kary Chan from backward point.
After some positive batting from Bhutan, Yousaf broke the partnership making Wangmo play it into the air to Mariko Hill at short cover. At this point Bhutan were 55/3 off 14 overs when Sonam Paldon hit in the air to Yasmin Daswani on the mid-wicket boundary off the bowling of Venkatesh to see them 4 down. The pressure continued to mount as Hong Kong continued to pile on the misery as Mehreen Yousaf bowled Dema to end her 38 ball stay at the crease. After that Hill and Betty Chan returned to complete the final overs of the game and see Bhutan restricted to 71/5 off their 20 Overs.
Hong Kong began their chase with Yasmin Daswani and Shanzeen Shahzad at the crease. Hong Kong got off to a quick start with Shahzad hitting 2 boundaries in the first over off left armer Anju Gurung before running herself out the next over. Emma Lai joined Daswani at the crease in her first outing in the T20 Smash. Hong Kong continued their good start getting to 22/1 after their first 3 overs, taking on the bowling of Dechen Wangmo.
Ritshi Choden and Sonam came on to see off the powerplay for Bhutan as Hong Kong’s Lai and Daswani saw the score to 29/1 off the first 6 overs. Lai struggled to get away the Bhutanese bowlers which led to her dismissal as she was bowled for 1 from her 20 balls. Vice-captain Kary Chan joined Daswani at the crease for a short stay as she tried to rotate strike but was caught trying to pull a delivery only to be bowled around her legs by Tshering Zangmo. Hong Kong skipper Mariko Hill joined Daswani at the crease with Hong Kong needing 34 to win. Hong Kong looked to plunder singles and keep the scoreboard ticking over, both Hill and Daswani brought up the team 50 in the 12th over.
Ritshi Choden returned to the attack to try and break this partnership only for Daswani and Hill to up their tempo at test the Bhutanese fielders with some fierce running. However the return of Tshering Zangmo saw the end of the Daswani whose inning’s ended as she advanced out of the crease only to be stumped. Hong Kong, still in control at 56/4, relied on Bella Poon and Hill to finish off the innings. Hill, feeling confident and positive swept Wangmo for 4 before being judged LBW on the very next ball trying to do the same thing. Yousaf seemed to enjoy her captain’s company as she followed her back the very next ball.
Once again, Betty Chan (who scored 20* in the last game against Indonesia) walked to the crease attempting to see Hong Kong home with 9 runs to go. Yet again, Chan fell for the sweep and again the finger went up. This time Ruchitha Venkatesh went in to bat and again continued her positive approach against the spinners by pulling anything short looking to drive down the ground. With three runs to go, Poon and Venkatesh looked to remain solid and finish off the game. Venkatesh continued her fine form scoring the winning runs through cover.
Hong Kong won by 3 wickets and move on to face Thailand at Terdthai tomorrow morning as they look to move towards the top of the table.
Scorecard