HONG KONG, November 18: In an encounter at the Hong Kong Cricket Club, Nepal emerged victorious in the four-nation series, outclassing Japan by a convincing margin of 67 runs.
Tasked with chasing down Nepal’s target of 114 runs, Japan faltered under the relentless pressure of Nepal’s bowlers, managing only 46 runs before losing all their wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
The star of the bowling attack for Nepal was Sangita Rai , who claimed an impressive five wickets while conceding just 6 runs in her four-over spell. Pooja Mahato added to the woes of the Japanese side by securing two wickets in three overs with a maiden and a meagre expense of only 2 runs.
After a disappointing start in the series, suffering defeats against Tanzania and the host Hong Kong, Nepal showcased a commendable turnaround in their performance against Japan. This comprehensive display included a strong batting effort, disciplined bowling, and sharp fielding.

In pursuit of the 114-run target, Japan needed help finding momentum, with only two players reaching double figures. Megh Ogawa scored 17 runs, while Seika Sumi contributed 13 runs with a solitary boundary in 16 balls. Notably, three Japanese players were dismissed without opening their account, and opener Ekari Nishimura received a golden duck courtesy of a well-executed delivery by Pooja Mahato.
Opting to bat after losing the toss on Saturday morning, Nepal posted a competitive total of 113 runs, losing four wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Former captain Rubina Chhetri led the charge with the highest score of 38 runs, showcasing her prowess with five boundaries in 32 balls. Captain Indu Burma and Kajal Shrestha provided valuable contributions with 27 runs and an unbeaten 15 runs, respectively. The third-wicket partnership between Indu and Rubina, amassing 48 runs, played a crucial role in Nepal’s batting resurgence.
Japan’s Ilina Kusuda managed to secure two wickets, while Meg Ogawa and Ayumi Fujikawa each claimed one wicket in their efforts to stem Nepal’s batting onslaught.