Amidst the showers Hong Kong beat Japan in the final to win the East Asia T20 Cup by 5 wickets on Sunday at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.
Japan Captain Mai Yanagida won the toss and elected to bat first. For Hong it was their first time fielding first having won their pool matches batting first. Mariko Hill took the new ball and bowled with good pace with Japan and Kanno in particular looking to take advantage of anything short and wide.
Chan Ka Man made the opening breakthrough with Kanno well caught at mid-off by Ho for 8. Back to back maidens during overs 5 and 6 by Ho and Chan Ma Kan left Japan under pressure at 14-1 after 6 overs. Shirashi set out to kick start the innings with a flowing drive through cover for 4.
Shirashi was then comprehensively bowled by K Chan for 8 and Hong Kong were very much in the ascendency. The Japanese captain Yanagida was still at the crease but was struggling to break the shackles of some disciplined bowling and excellent fielding inside the circle. 17 runs off the 12th over kick started the Japanese innings with some lusty blows being struck by Endo. The Japanese counter-attack continued in the next over with 9 coming off the bowling of Chan Sau Har including some excellent straight drives through and over mid on/off.
Chan Ka Man was bought back into the attack and struck instantly bowling the dangerous Endo for a well-made 16. Chan ended up with figures of 2-3 off her 4 over spell including 3 maidens. Yanagida continued to Japan innings together and played some exquisite drives both through and over cover. 74-3 off 17 overs, the Japanese were trying everything to get close to 100 If not beyond. Yanagida finished unbeaten on 35 off 55 balls and Japan’s inning s closed on 90-4.
Hong Kong set off chasing 91 with in form openers Daswani and Gill striding out to the middle. The impressive left arm spinner of Miyaji started off with a maiden and the intensity of the Japanese fielding unit within the inner circle was evident from the first ball. Daswani with her favored square cut and back foot drive tried to get the innings flowing while Japan looked to continue to build pressure. Gill eventually got off the mark with 2 cultured strokes through the leg side. 32-0 after the initial 6 over power play, 58 needed off 84 balls with the full complement of wickets in hand.
Rain bought the players off the field at the start of the 9th over with Hong Kong well placed on 44-0. No overs were lost and the players returned to the middle with play resuming with a free hit that Daswani duly obliged by slashing once again through backward point. The 50 partnership came up in the 9th over and with that the heavens opened once again. Play resumed for a 3rd time with a revised target of 83 off 18 Overs. Miyaji returned and made the breakthrough bowling Gill (53-1). Ishimoto claimed the wicket of K Chan caught by Wicket Keeper Yamaguchi for 2.
A late flurry of wickets including Daswani, Hill and Shahzad added some late drama but Hong Kong went on to win by 5 wickets and are the 2017 East Asia T20 Champions.
Hong Kong are deserving winners of what has been an excellent tournament. All 4 teams at various stages of the week have shown high levels of skill, passion and commitment. The future of Women’s cricket within the region is in good health.
Hong Kong (85/5) beat Japan (90/4) by 5 wickets (Duckworth/Lewis method)
Player of the Tournament: Yasmin Daswani (Hong Kong)
Batter of the Tournament: Yasmin Daswani (Hong Kong)
Bowler of the Tournament: Etsuko Kobayashi (Japan)
Additional reporting and images: HK Cricket