IND-W vs HKG-W

Thank you for joining with us for the Live coverage of India vs Hongkong China from the Asia Cup. This is your commentary duo of Shahan and Pradeep signing off! 

Harmanpreet Kaur (India captain)  I willstart with the positives. Smriti and Shafali batted really well. In the middle overs, that’s why we wanted to bat (first).. to get used to these conditions. Today’s pitch was better than how it played in the previous game, but it’s all about spending some time on the pitch and getting used to these conditions because we are not that aware of these conditions. Still, we managed what we wanted as a team, scoring close to 200, and later on, the bowlers did a great job.

Smriti Mandhana is the Player of the Match! Here's what she has to say: [On dedicating her century]“I didn’t really have anyone specific in mind, but there have been a lot of things going on around me. I’d definitely like to dedicate the century to my family. I didn’t have it planned in my mind, though.”[On the adjustments to her batting]“We weren’t very familiar with the opposition. We had seen a few videos, but we were playing them for the first time. Sometimes, when you come up against a team you don’t know much about, you have to forget everything else, watch the ball and adapt. For me, it was mainly about adjusting to the pace.”[On her affinity with full tosses]“I wouldn’t say full tosses are my strength! I’m happy I managed to get away with a few of them today. But I think any batter would say that sometimes a full toss can go for six, or you can get out.”

Natasha Miles (Hong Kong, China captain): [On the team's overall performance]“I think we bowled really well in phases. Smriti played out of this world and showed exactly what she’s capable of, but I thought our girls also put their best foot forward and gave it everything. We still have plenty to learn and areas to improve, but I felt we had a bit of control over the game during the first 10-11 overs.”[On where the bowling unit could improve]“Maybe it was just about being more consistent with our plans and executing them better. At the same time, we’re playing a quality opposition. We need to develop the ability to put the ball exactly where we want it and make things as difficult as possible for players of this quality.”[On areas of improvement with the bat]“I think we just need more exposure and a little more confidence. I’ve seen all of us play some spectacular shots and some really good innings. But as you climb the ladder and play stronger teams, it’s about maintaining that confidence and keeping your shape to still play those shots against bowling that’s quicker and more consistent.”[On the learnings from India]“There’s quite a lot we can take away. The bravery with which India play is something we can definitely learn from. Everyone trains to play all the shots, but their ability to go out there and execute them from ball one is probably a big learning for us. We need to build that confidence and bravery to do the same against any opposition we face.”

Hong Kong, China Women 2nd Innings — 56 all out (16.2 overs)
Hong Kong's chase completely fell apart, as India bowled them out for just 56, sealing a massive victory after India posted 193/5.

Natasha Miles — 15 (27) — 1 four, 0 sixes, SR 55.56. Hong Kong's top scorer but struggled to accelerate.

Marina Lamplough — 14 (15) — 3 fours, SR 93.33.

Yasmin Daswani — 11 (23) — 1 four, SR 47.83.

Maryam Bibi — 7 (10) — 1 four.

Shanzeen Shahzad — 2 (6)

Kary Chan — 1 (6)

Alison Siu — 1 (3)

Joyleen Kaur — 1 (1)

Mariko Hill — 0 (4)

Iqra Sahar — 0 (3)

Ruchitha Venkatesh — 0 (0)*

Extras — 4

There was virtually no partnership of substance. Hong Kong slipped from 31/3 to 36/4, then 52/5, and collapsed from 54/6 to 56 all out.
🇮🇳 India's bowling
Deepti Sharma was the destroyer: 3/9 (3 overs).

Deepti Sharma: 3/9 (3) — Econ 3.00

Nandani Sharma: 2/6 (3) — Econ 2.00

Shree Charani: 2/16 (3.2) — Econ 4.80

Prema Rawat: 2/12 (3) — Econ 4.00

Kranti Gaud: 0/5 (3) — Econ 1.67

Shafali Verma: 0/4 (1) — Econ 4.00

India's bowling was absolutely ruthless: every wicket fell to a bowler except Joyleen Kaur, who was run out, and India conceded only 56 runs in 16.2 overs.
Result
India Women won by 137 runs.
Match standout: Smriti Mandhana — 124 (64) 
India scored 193/5, then demolished Hong Kong for 56. A 137-run win — total domination from start to finish.

16.2 Shree Charani to Shanzeen Shahzad, OUT! APPEAL FOR STUMPING! Shahzad might be a goner here. Good length on the off-stump, Shahzad takes a shimmy down the wicket, swings across the line and misses. Spun away sharply as Ghosh collects and whips the bails off in a flash.

Umpire takes this upstairs again. Shahzad lands her backfoot, but was late as the bails comes off. India thump Hong Kong, China handsomely and have marched on to the Semi-Finals!

A very quick over for India as the manage to snap up more wickets in the innings. At this point there was no clear competition between the two teams. India have completely dominated the opposition in this. India just one wicket away from victory now.

15.6 Deepti Sharma to Shanzeen Shahzad, RUN-OUT! Good length, spun back in sharply. Shahzad went back and tickled it to short fine-leg and took off. Slight hesitation from Kaur, had to put in the dive as the throw comes to Ghosh who whips the bails off.

Replay comes up, Kaur is well short and another one bites the dust. Third wicket from the over. India just one wicket away now!

15.4 Deepti Sharma to Iqra Sahar, OUT! GOES UP IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! It's all falling apart quickly for Hong Kong, China. Iqra went for the slog sweep, but gets a big top edge over the keeper's head. Ghosh redeems herself by running back and taking a simple catch. Second wicket in the over for Deepti.

15.2 Deepti Sharma to Iqra Sahar, OH DEAR! Missed stumping chance from Ghosh! Skips down the wicket to play, but that turned sharply in and beats the inside edge. Ghosh doesn't collect neatly.