Kathmandu, November 27

Nepal defeated Hong Kong by 36 runs and claimed third position in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifiers for Asia Region at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok today.

In the third place play-off match,  Nepal scored 94-5 in their allotted 20 overs after put into bat first  and packed Hong Kong for 58 runs with a ball to spare.

Nepal made a disastrous start as openers Jyoti Pandey (two) and Sita  Rana Magar (three) fell at the hands of  Mariko Hill with just  seven runs in three overs. But, Nary Thapa, who scored a quick-fire  34-ball 38 hitting five boundaries, added 30 runs with Kajol Shrestha  (12) for the third wicket.

Former skipper Thapa also shared a 31-run stand for the fifth wicket with Karuna Bhandari, who remained unbeaten on 14 off 21 balls. Skipper  Rubina Chhetri scored 10-ball 15 not out with the help of two  boundaries to post a fighting total.

Hong Kong’s Lamlough (2-11) and Hill (2-22) shared four wickets between them, while Chan Sau Har took a wicket.

In  reply, Hong Kong were never in  contention as they were reduced to 37-6 inside  14 overs and the last four wickets could add 21 runs. Chan  Sau Har top scored for Hong Kong with 13, while Kary Chan reached  double figures with 11. Har and Chan hit a boundary each.

Karuna Bhandari was the pick of the Nepali bowlers taking 3-10, while player-of-the-match Nary Thapa,  Sabnam Rai, Sita Rana Magar and Ritu Kanoujiya picked up a wicket each.

Meanwhile, Thailand won the title beating the United Arab Emirates by 22 runs. Batting first, Thailand were all out for 78 in 19.2 overs and the UAE managed 56-9 in 20 overs. The two teams earned berths in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifiers to be held in the Netherlands next year.