China impress on double-header Friday despite twin defeats
By Jay Dasinghani

After being bowled out for 41 by the home side in the morning game, an ever-improving China bounced back to score 99 in a chase of 144 against Japan in the afternoon game on day three of the Men’s East Asia Cup.

In spite of missing out on the final, the Wei Guolei-led team showed intent with the bat and entertained the crowd in the closing stages of their chase.

China vs Hong Kong China

Electing to bat first, China’s top order had no answer for Haroon Arshad (4-7) who had the ball on a string. The right-arm seamer bowled both Wei Guolei and Zou Kiu for ducks off consecutive balls in the first over with deliveries that swung in late.

His next over was just as lethal as Zhuang Zelin played around his front pad to get trapped in front before Huang Junjie missed a drive to get bowled through the gate.

At 8 for four in the fourth over, China had their work cut out for them. Shenjian Zheng was the brightest spark for the Chinese, pulling Ehsan Khan away for two fours before pumping Anas Khan over long on for back-to-back maximums.

Yet, after he was bowled off an Ehsan Khan arm ball, China collapsed to 41 all out in the 13^th over.

Openers Aizaz Khan and Jason Lui took a mere five overs to seal chase, finishing unbeaten on 21 and 12 respectively.

China vs Japan

After Japan opted to bat first, China put on a memorable bowling display. Left-arm seamer Zong Yuechao trapped Declan Suzuki-McComb in front for a duck in the first over before Tain Senqun (4-12) bowled one of the spells of the tournament.

His first wicket was that of Koji Hardgrave-Abe who mistimed a shot to Zelin at mid off. Tian doubled his wicket tally when Ravicahndran was caught behind. Buoyed by these dismissals, he seemingly put on an extra yard of pace, bowling Kato-Stafford with a searing yorker before trapping Ibraham Takahashi in front to restrict the opposition to 50 for five in the eighth over.

Muneeb Mian, however, rescued Japan, smashing a brisk 28 to lead them to 143.

China showed grit and determination to bat out the first 11 overs, reaching a score of 35 for two.

Zheng walked out at five and was once again at his explosive best, slogging Takahashi over the ropes before pumping Mian over long on. His 23 off 11 helped China register their second-highest T20I total.

Promoted to open the batting, Deng Jinqi was run out for 38 off the last ball, attempting to come back for an unlikely third run that would have seen China reach a score of 100 for only the second time in T20Is.

China will play an exhibition game on Sunday against a Hong Kong China Dragons team, consisting of Chinese heritage players.