Hong Kong secure semi-final spot after beating Thailand by 6 wickets

Hong Kong was made to work harder than expected in overcoming Thailand by six wickets in their second match at the ACC Women's Cricket Tournament played at the Institut Perguruan Temenggong Ibrahim ground in Johor Bahru.

On another steamy day with rain forecast in the afternoon, Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field. The IPTI wicket, a clay block, looked flat and lifeless, offering little to either batter or bowler.

Hong Kong's skipper Neisha Pratt claimed the first wicket of the day when she bowled Srinton Sanaeshop, leaving Thailand at 8-1 after 8 overs. Chan Sau Har then grabbed her first wicket of the tournament just before the drinks break as Thailand struggled to 28-2 off 14 overs - the Thai batters keeping the Hong Kong bowlers at bay but failing to lift the run-rate.

The Hong Kong bowlers turned the screws over the next nine overs, conceding just six runs and claiming five more wickets. Keenu Gill, Ishitaa Gidwani and Godiva Li grabbed a wicket each while Renee Montgomery and Ishitaa Gidwani orchestrated two run-outs. Godiva Li, who celebrated her 15th birthday on 12th July, then claimed two more wickets in one over to leave Thailand innings in tatters at 38-9 off 26 overs. Kristine Wong wrapped things up shortly afterwards to leave Thailand all out for 40 runs. Skipper Somnarin Tippoch was the only Thai batter to reach double figures as she scored 11 runs from 38 balls.

Hong Kong rejigged their batting line-up with Sarah Eames and Emma Phillips opening the innings. The Thailand team bowled and fielded well to defend their small total and their efforts were rewarded with the early wickets of both openers to leave Hong Kong at 2-19 after 3.2 overs. When Renee Montgomery (0) and Georgina Chiu Chalmers (1) fell in quick succession, the match was delicately poised with Hong Kong on 24-4 after eight overs. But the arrival of Neisha Pratt at the wicket settled Hong Kong's nerves and she and Keenu Gill combined to take Hong Kong to victory without further loss. The winning runs came from a wide, in a rather anti-climactic finish to the match - the six wicket victory achieved off 9.4 overs.

The victory secures a place for Hong Kong in the semi-finals but they'll need to beat Nepal in their final group match to ensure that they qualify at the top of their group, thereby avoiding a meeting with Bangladesh, who have breezed through their first two matches of the tournament..