China have surprised Nepal in a rain reduced game to secure a place in the Asian Games women's cricket tournament in Japan this September.
Qualifying events for the Asian Games cricket tournament are being held for the first time, with the six team women's qualifier played in Malaysia this past week.
Hong Kong and Indonesia were eliminated in the first round, setting up yesterday's semi-finals.
In the first of these, tournament favourites Thailand secured their place in the Asian Games with a dominant performance against China, scoring 137-3 before bowling the Chinese out for 53, with no Chinese batter reaching double figures. Onnicha Kamchomphu was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for just four runs from her four overs.
In the second semi-final, Nepal batted first against Malaysia and scored 126-6, captain Indu Barma top scoring with an unbeaten 46. Elsa Hunter - who has played in the Big Bash League for the Sydney Sixers - then scored 48 for Malaysia, helping them book their ticket to the Asian Games with a two wicket win with eight balls to spare.
Nepal were put into bat in the third place play-off, and lost three wickets in four balls across the second and third overs before rain interupted the game.
When play resumed, the game was reduced to seven overs. Two more wickets - one of which was a retired out - came in the fifth over and Nepal scored 50-5 from their seven overs.
China celebrate a wicket (Asian Cricket Council)
DLS set China a target of 43, and they got there by the skin of their teeth with Cai Yuzhi hitting the last ball of the game for four to secure a five wicket win and a place in the Asian Games.
The three qualifiers will join hosts Japan and full members Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the eight team tournament, but there was also the small matter of the final between Thailand and Malaysia.
Suleeporn Laomi took 4-13 as Malaysia were bundled out for 54, with Natthakan Chantham then scoring an unbeaten 41 as Thailand secured a nine wicket win in 10.4 overs.
The eight team men's qualifier began today in Singapore with a match between Nepal and China. In stark contrast to their women's side, the Chinese men's team were thoroughly outclassed. Nepal became the first team to pass 300 twice in men's T20Is with 313-2 and then bowled China out for 92 to win by 221 runs.
The other teams in the men's qualifier are Bahrain, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar and Singapore. The three gulf countries have all-citizen teams for the first time in line with Asian Games regulations.
