Nepal lost to Hong Kong by seven wickets in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Qualifier game that was reduced to five overs each due to a wet outfield in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday.

Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field first after the ground was considered playable.

With only 30 deliveries at their disposal, Nepali batters tried hitting big. But they could only score a disappointing 29 runs at the loss of three wickets.

Opener Samjhana Khadka was the highest scorer for the team with 10 off 7. None of the other batters scored in double figures.

Alison Siu of Hong Kong bagged all three wickets against Nepal in her two-over spell, conceding only 11 runs.

Nepal had a dream start to their defence. They sent two Hong Kong batters back to the pavilion in the first three deliveries without giving away a single run. But they couldn’t continue the initial momentum as Shanzeen Shahzad and Mariko Hill took the score to 27 runs in four overs before Hill departed for 11 off 11 in the first ball of the last over.

In at five, Yasmin Daswani collected the remaining three runs in the next two deliveries. She stayed not out with Shahzad, who scored 15 off 12. Kabita Kunwar bagged two wickets for Nepal while opener Kary Chan was run out.

Nepal have yet to play a full-over game in Thailand. Their first group game of the double round-robin format against Hong Kong on May 9 was cancelled due to rain while the second group game, against Bahrain on May 10, was also reduced to five overs each.

Hong Kong, with the win, are now at the top of the table with four points from three games. Nepal are second with three points from three games. Only the group topper progresses to the next stage. Thus, Nepal’s chances are now slim with their fate hingeing on other teams’ performances. For Nepal to progress, Hong Kong will have to lose to Bahrain next, and they will have to win when the two meet on May 15.