da betsson： Hong Kong got off to a winning start at the ACC women’s tournament when they thrashed hosts Malaysia by 114 runs at the Johor Cricket Academy today.
Cricinfo staff11-Jul-2007
Scorecard
Neisha Pratt led the way with both bat and ball © HKCA
Neisha Pratt, the Hong Kong captain, almost single-handedly subjected hostsMalaysia to a 114-run trouncing at the Johor Cricket Academy in the opening match of the ACC women’s tournament.Pratt made a thumping, chanceless 71 off 77 deliveries as Hong Kongpiled on 143 runs off their allotted 30 overs. In reply, Malaysia couldonly muster a mere 29, that too off 29.5 overs.The hosts almost seemed to be playing for a draw. Opening batsman Emylia Eliani took36 deliveries for her 5 runs – but that was better than Norlida Hamid, whowas out without scoring after 45 deliveries. The crowd waited patiently while 30deliveries were played back to the bowler, and were put out of theirmisery when Kaori Iida clipped her Hamid’s off-stump.Few runs came off the bat for Malaysia, with 14 of the 29 runs coming in extras. Pratt shone with the ball too, capping the day with ahaul of four wickets.Pratt’s innings of 71 contained three boundaries and a couple of sixes.She played some powerful strokes, hitting on the up and it was only theintroduction of the slower bowlers that curtailed her run-scoring.The margin of victory could have been higher for Hong Kong, who were at86 for 1 at one stage – with Pratt going strong – and looking likely tosail past their pre-match target of 150. However, they managed only 57in the last 15 overs, the batsmen tied down by disciplined bowling.The bowlers though did benefit from umpires being lenient on a number ofdeliveries that went down the leg side.