HONG KONG COME THROUGH
Hong Kong booked their place in the semi-final of the ACC Women's Tournament
with a six-wicket victory over Thailand in Johor Bahru.
Hong Kong's class and composure was enough to beat a gutsy Thailand who put
up a creditable fight.
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Neisha Pratt and Keenu Gill,
Hong Kong's undefeated fifth-wicket pair |
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Thailand were put in to bat under cloudy conditions and that the top order
negotiated the early skirmishes and confidently accumulated runs against one
of the best attacks in the competition was most creditable. Hong Kong rather
wasted their opportunity to attack by bowling a little short on the rather
slow 'moonchong clay' surface. With the half-way stage approaching Thailand
had lost just one wicket and were scoring at two an over.
Chan Sau Ha made the critical break-through just before the drinks break
with her second-ball when she bowled the nuggety Thai opener Arisa with the
score on 28. From then on, with Chan Sau Ha showing the merits of the ball
being pitched up there was a procession of Thai wickets. Nine Thai wickets
fell for just 12 runs in twelve overs.
"All of our bowlers with the exception of (captain) Neisha Pratt are
under 18 and their lack of experience of bowling on turf showed at the beginning
but once they worked things out, they made things happen," said Hong Kong's
coach Lal Jayasinghe. Godiva Li (15 years-old) found swing in her second-spell
as she bowled a fuller length. Three yorkers yielded three wickets.
Thailand, marshalled by their captain Sornnarin Tippoch were full of pep in
the field as they defended their 40. An early wicket led to a huddle and a
cry of "They" ("Awesome"). It was a word heard three more
times as their bowlers did enough to put a re-jigged Hong Kong batting order
in some discomfort. Resting opener Neisha Pratt was forced to come in at the
fall of the fourth wicket (hurriedly changing back out of practice clothing
to playing uniform).
With her first four, the pressure came off Hong Kong and she and Keenu Gill
brought Hong Kong home. A place in the semi-finals now awaits them.
ACC WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT
Hong Kong v Thailand, IPTI Johor Bahru
HONG KONG WON BY SIX WICKETS
Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field
Thailand: 40 all out after 26.2 overs (G. Li 3-7)
Hong Kong: 41 for 4 off 9.4 overs (N. Sirisuwan 2-16)
Scorecard
Filed July 13 2007
