T20 World Cup qualifier: Hong Kong women face uphill task to reach cricket finals despite cruising past Bhutan

Hong Kong score a 20-run win over the Asian minnows but UAE remain favourites to reach the next round of qualifying after thrashing Kuwait

Even if Nepal beat UAE in their match, Hong Kong’s run rate is unlikely to be good enough to overhaul their rivals and seal the single qualifying spot available

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Hong Kong beat Bhutan by 20 runs at the ICC Academy in Dubai. Photo: ICC

Published: 10:09am, 27 Nov 2021Updated: 10:59am, 27 Nov 2021

Hong Kong eased to a convincing 20-run win over Bhutan in Dubai on Friday, but their hopes of moving on to the next stage of T20 World Cup qualifying appear all but over.

With United Arab Emirates cruising to their fourth win of the tournament with a crushing seven-wicket win over Kuwait, and Nepal making short work of Malaysia, Chris Pickett’s side would need a minor miracle to progress.

Nepal play the hosts tomorrow in the final round of matches, and even if they win, and Hong Kong dispatch Kuwait, the three sides would finish level on points. Hong Kong’s net run rate is not good enough for them to overhaul the other two sides.

Still, ending their tournament with only one defeat would be a significant achievement, and while they were not at their best against Bhutan, they were more than good enough.

Hong Kong openers Mariko Hill and Shanzeen Shahzad. Photo: ICC

Put into bat after skipper Kary Chan lost the toss for the first time, Hong Kong started slowly and lost Shanzeen Shahzad in the first over when she played and missed a straight one and was bowled by Anju Gurung.