Nepal national women’s cricket team’s hopes to make it to the final of the Hong Kong Women’s T20I Quadrangular Series ended after they lost to the hosts by nine wickets at the Hong Kong Cricket Club in Wong Nai on Thursday.

A second loss in as many games in the series puts Nepal third in the four-team table without a point. Nepal had lost to Tanzania by 27 runs on Wednesday.

Nepal needed a victory to keep alive their bid for the final but another batting flop saw them post a paltry 56 all out in 18 overs after electing to bat first.

Former captain Rubina Chhetry scored the highest score for Nepal with 25 runs. None other Nepali batters were able to score in double digit figures.

Chhetry was clean-bowled in the 14th over by Ruchita Venkatesh, who took 2-9.

Sita Rana Magar, who hit 43 against Tanzania in their opening game, could only manage nine runs.

Hong Kong’s Iqra Sahar took a hat-trick to remove Samjhana Khadka, Kajal Shrestha and captain Indu Barma to return the match figures of 3-6.

In reply, opener Natasha Miles played an unbeaten 30 off 23 balls and Shanzeen Shahzad made not out 20 facing 27 deliveries to guide Hong Kong to 57-1 in nine overs.

The outcome means Hong Kong progressed into the final with a match in hand. They have four points from two games.

Hong Kong face Tanzania, who also have four points, in the final after the latter beat Japan by 111 runs in the day’s other action.

Hong Kong and Tanzania meet in their last group meetings on Saturday to decide the group winners.

Nepal take on Japan in their last group match on Saturday before facing the same side in the third-place playoff on Sunday.