The 2025 edition of the Women’s T20 Pentangular Series showcased the growing depth of women’s cricket in East Asia and Southeast Asia. Signing off the tournament, it was Japan’s victory in the decisive final that secured them the championship. The Play-offs and the final were tightly contested and highlighted the competitive spirit across all participating nations.
4th Place Play-off- Mongolia Women vs Philippines Women
The 4th place play-off saw Mongolia take on Philippines, with both teams looking to finish their campaign on a high after a challenging group stage. Mongolia, opting to bat first, struggled to find momentum and were restricted to 90/7 in their 20 overs. Their top order faltered early, with batters failing to convert starts into significant scores.
Opener Javzandulam Tugsjargal managed a gritty 19 off 47 while Batjargal Ichinkhorloo added 12 off 34. Battsetseg Namuunzul offered a hope with 15 off 27, but the middle and lower order couldn’t push the total further. For the Philippines, Kyte Gullem Keen delivered a match-defining bowling performance, picking up 4/21. She was well supported by Alex Smith, who took 2/16 in a tidy spell.
In reply, the Philippines had a minor hiccup as Jhon Andreano was dismissed for just 5 runs. However, Alex Smith and Amelia Valdez steadied the chase and ensured there were no further setbacks. The duo stitched together an unbeaten partnership, with Smith scoring 23* off 34 and Valdez finishing with a composed 33* off 36. Their efforts guided the Philippines to a comfortable win, reaching the target in 13.1 overs.
3rd Place Play-off: Philippines Women vs China Women
In the battle for third place, China secured a convincing 7-wicket victory over Philippines in a low-scoring encounter. Opting to bat first, the Philippines struggled to find rhythm, with their top order collapsing early – Jhon Andreano managed just 7 runs, Alex Smith fell for 2, and Amelia Valdez was dismissed for 11.
Captain Katie Donovan offered some resistance with a composed 34 off 44, supported briefly by Karri Keen, who contributed 16 off 25. However, the lower order failed to capitalize, and the Philippines were bundled out for a modest total of 84. For China, Mengting Liu was the standout performer with the ball, claiming an impressive 3 for 15.
China’s chase got off to a shaky start with Jiaping Li dismissed for a duck. But the team quickly regained composure as Wei Haiting 25 off 44 and Zi Mei 18 off 28 built a steady partnership. Mingyue Zhu added the finishing touches with a brisk 17* off 12, guiding China to 85/3 in just 15.2 overs and sealing the win with ease.
Final: Japan Women vs Hong Kong Women
The grand finale of the tournament featured hosts Japan facing off against an unbeaten Hong Kong. Both teams entered the contest in fine form – Hong Kong riding high on a flawless group stage, while Japan had bounced back strongly after an early defeat to secure their place in the final.
Opting to bat first, Japan got off to a steady start with their openers – Kurumi Ota laid the foundation with a cautious 17 off 30, while Ayaka Kato-Stafford anchored the innings with 27 off 45. Brief contributions came from Haruna Iwasaki (12 off 9) and Ahilya Chandel (10 off 11), but Japan’s lower order failed to accelerate, resulting in a modest total of 99/7. Hong Kong’s bowlers kept things tight, with Kary Chan picking up 1 for 12 and Alison Siu returning figures of 1 for 13.
In response, Hong Kong started their chase confidently. Captain Natasha Miles scored 17 off 22, and Kary Chan top-scored with a fluent 36 off 33 balls. However, once the opening partnership was broken, Japan’s bowlers turned the tide. The middle and lower order of Hong Kong collapsed dramatically, with no batter reaching double digits as they were bundled out for just 77 in 18 overs.
The star of the show was Erika Toguchi-Quinn, who produced a sensational spell of bowling, taking 5 wickets for 14 runs, dismantling Hong Kong’s batting lineup. She was well supported by Ayumi Fujikawa, who chipped in with 2 for 14.
As the dust settles in, the tournament will be remembered for its close finishes, emerging talents, low-scoring feats and the continued growth of women’s cricket in the region.
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