Match no. 4 of the ongoing 2023 Hong Kong Women’s Twenty20 (T20) Quadrangular series will feature a clash between Hong Kong and Nepal at Hong Kong Cricket Club, Wong Nai Chung Gap, on the 16th of November, 2023, at 11:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Squads:
Hong Kong – Kary Chan (C), Natasha Miles (VC), Alison Siu, Betty Chan, Dorothea Chan, Emma Lai, Elysa Hubbard, Iqra Sahar, Lemon Cheung, Mariko Hill, Maryam Bibi, Mya Gardner, Ruchitha Venkatesh, Shanzeen Shadzad
Nepal – Indu Barma (C), Bindu Rawal (VC), Rubina Chhetry, Sita Rana Magar, Ashmina Karmacharya, Kajol Shrestha, Kanchan Shrestha, Somu Bist, Puja Mahato, Roma Thapa, Sangita Rai, Khushi Dangol, Samjhana Khadka, Sony Pakhrin
Players to watch out:
Mariko Hill
The 27-year-old all-rounder in 49 T20I appearances has piled on 926 runs, averaging 22.04, and has picked up 33 wickets, including respective bests of 76 and 3/14. Mariko kicked off her campaign in the expected fashion, starring for the team in a winning cause with a 40 and bowling figures of 1/7.
Iqra Sahar
The 21-year-old pacer has taken 21 wickets from 30 bowling outings, maintaining an economy rate of 5.15. In the lead-up to the series, Iqra registered scores of 3*, 9*, and 19* in the All-Stars series and also bagged 3 wickets. She carried forward her form into the Quadrangular series, returning figures of 3/10 in the opener.
Rubina Chhetry
The 29-year-old all-rounder in T20Is, in 39 batting innings, has amassed 502 runs, including the highest of 50, and has 34 wickets to her name off 45 outings, with the best being 4/2. Rubina, in 3 All-Stars games, scored 61 runs and bagged a couple of wickets, while in the Quadrangular series opener, departed for a duck but compensated with the ball, finishing on figures of 1/18 (4).
Sangita Rai
The 23-year-old off-spinner has 14 T20I wickets to her name off 11 outings and has registered the best of 4/6. Sangita, in her first international outing since June 2022, impressed straightaway, recording figures of 2/16 (3) in the series opener against Tanzania. It’ll be watched if she can continue on this momentum, producing more match-winning spells.
Pitch:
The center wicket at the Hong Kong Cricket Club heavily favors the spinners, creating ideal conditions for bowling, as evident from the average score in the 90s. However, batters with good tactical skills and shot selection can still score runs effectively.
Weather:
Despite cloudy overhead, the chances of rain are minimal, and the forecast promises a complete game of cricket at Hong Kong Cricket Club. The temperature is forecasted to hover around 21°C, with moderate winds and humidity at 62%.
Fantasy playing XI:
Kanchan Shrestha, Natasha Miles, Indu Barma, Mariko Hill, Sita Rana Magar, Kary Chan, Rubina Chhetry, Puja Mahato, Betty Chan, Sangita Rai, Iqra Sahar
Match details:
Date – November 16, 2023
Time – 11:30 AM IST
Venue – Hong Kong Cricket Club, Wong Nai Chung Gap
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on FanCode and Cricket Hong Kong’s Facebook page.