Hong Kong Women booked their place in the next stage of the ACC Women’s Premier Cup 2026 with a commanding 41-run victory over Japan Women at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi. A superb unbeaten half-century from Yasmin Daswani, followed by a disciplined bowling performance led by Marina Lamplough and Maryam Bibi, ensured Hong Kong comfortably defended their total and continued their impressive campaign.
After being asked to bat first, Hong Kong Women began steadily but lost an early wicket when Mariko Hill departed for 16 off 24 deliveries. Before her dismissal, she and captain Natasha Miles had added 44 runs for the opening wicket, providing a stable platform. Shimako Kato struck the breakthrough for Japan, removing Hill with the score at 44 in the eighth over.
Natasha Miles then continued to build alongside Yasmin Daswani. The pair added another valuable 8 runs before Miles was caught by Ayumi Fujikawa off Ayaka Kato-Stafford for 24 from 31 balls, an innings featuring two boundaries. At 52/2 after 10.1 overs, the innings was delicately poised, and Japan sensed an opportunity to tighten their grip on the contest.
However, Yasmin Daswani had other plans. Batting with confidence and intent, she anchored the innings beautifully while rotating the strike efficiently. She first shared a crucial 37-run partnership with Kary Chan, who contributed a brisk 16 from 15 deliveries. Kary’s dismissal at 89/3 in the 15.3rd over gave Japan another opening, but Hong Kong accelerated brilliantly during the death overs.
Daswani then combined with Marina Lamplough in a highly productive fourth wicket stand worth 51 runs. Marina played an aggressive hand, scoring 21 from just 13 balls at a strike rate exceeding 160. Their partnership shifted momentum decisively in Hong Kong’s favour before Marina was run out in the penultimate over with the score on 140. Maryam Bibi arrived but was dismissed for a duck by Ayaka Kato-Stafford in the following over. Despite those late wickets, Hong Kong finished strongly on 140/5 in their 20 overs.
The standout performer was Yasmin Daswani, who remained unbeaten on 55 from just 36 deliveries, striking six boundaries and scoring at over 150. Her innings earned her the Player of the Match award and formed the backbone of Hong Kong’s competitive total. Extras also contributed 8 valuable runs.
Japan’s bowlers fought hard throughout the innings. Shimako Kato claimed 1/24 from four overs and provided the first breakthrough. Ayaka Kato-Stafford picked up two important wickets, finishing with 1/33 despite being expensive. Nonoha Yasumoto accounted for Kary Chan, while Ahilya Chandel, Ayumi Fujikawa, and Mamta Kaswan bowled economical spells without taking wickets.
Chasing 141 for victory, Japan Women suffered an immediate setback when Kurumi Ota was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Iqra Sahar, leaving the score at 5/1. Haruna Iwasaki responded positively, striking four boundaries during an entertaining 26 off 20 balls. Together with Ayaka Kato-Stafford, she added 21 runs for the second wicket, briefly reviving the chase.
Ayaka Kato-Stafford contributed 5 before falling to the combined efforts of Iqra Sahar and Wai Siu, making it 16/2. Haruna and Shimako Kato then put together a promising 21-run partnership that took Japan to 47 before Kato was bowled by Kary Chan for 18. Haruna’s dismissal soon after at 55/4 further dented Japan’s hopes.
Erika Oda attempted to keep Japan in the contest with a fighting 24 from 27 deliveries, including a six and a boundary. Alongside captain Mai Yanagida, she added 35 runs for the fifth wicket, the highest partnership of the innings for Japan. The stand briefly threatened to create pressure on Hong Kong, but Maryam Bibi broke through by removing Oda at 90/5 in the 14.6th over.
The collapse continued as Hinase Goto managed just 1, Ahilya Chandel was dismissed without scoring, and Ayumi Fujikawa also fell for a duck. Mai Yanagida battled hard for 19 from 22 balls, but her run out in the final over effectively ended Japan’s challenge. Nonoha Yasumoto remained unbeaten on 2 as Japan were bowled out for 99 in 19.1 overs.
Hong Kong’s bowling attack delivered a complete team performance. Marina Lamplough was exceptional, returning figures of 2/11 from four overs while maintaining tight control throughout the innings. Maryam Bibi was equally effective, claiming 3/17 and dismantling the middle and lower order. Iqra Sahar and Kary Chan picked up one wicket each, while Alison Siu bowled economically and contributed with a crucial breakthrough. Joyleen Kaur and Ruchitha Venkatesh also supported well in containing the scoring rate.
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