The Hong Kong women's cricket team will have to take the harder path if they are to jockey into medal contention after China edged past them by just four runs in pool competition.
The defeat will most likely see Hong Kong finish second in the pool - they have to beat minnows South Korea on Monday - resulting in a quarter-final against Sri Lanka.
If we had beaten China today, we would have faced Japan which would have been an easier game. Now we have to do it the tough way
"If we had beaten China today, we would have faced Japan which would have been an easier game. Now we have to do it the tough way," said Charlie Burke, Hong Kong Cricket Association's director of cricket.
A fighting and unbeaten 45 from opener Keenu Gill was not enough to lift Hong Kong, who were chasing 84 in 20 overs. They needed 11 runs from the last over but it was tough considering no boundaries had been hit in the previous 19 overs.
"The outfield was very slow. China scored just one boundary in their innings and we knew we would have to run hard to reach the target," said Hong Kong coach Najeeb Amar.
Chinese openers Zhang Mei and Liu Xiaonan put on 43 before a collapse that saw 10 wickets fall for another 41 runs as China were bowled out 83. Skipper Ishitaa Gidwani and Mariko Hill were the pick of the bowlers, each grabbing two wickets while conceding 15 and 11 runs respectively from their four overs.