Hong Kong’s interest in the women’s cricket at the Asian Games came to a soggy conclusion on Friday, as rain again reduced the competition to a farce.
A day after India and Pakistan progressed to the semi-finals having bowled just two balls between them, a grand total of 25.5 overs was managed from the third and fourth quarter-finals.
Hong Kong had been scheduled to play Bangladesh in the second game at Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field, but persistent drizzle meant the covers never came off the wicket.
With organisers dictating that the team ranked highest advanced to the last four, the city side’s Asian Games was reduced to a loss, after starting the tournament with a loss against Malaysia and a largely meaningless encounter against a Mongolia team ill-suited to the occasion.
“Obviously the team’s disappointed we have ended the Asian Games this way, and it’s a pity because you want to test yourself against the best,” Hong Kong head coach Andy Cottam said.
“We planned and prepared well for this match, but there’s not much we can do. Unfortunately it is what it is.”
The only action saw Thailand, playing in their first and as it turned out only game of the tournament, held to 78 for seven by Sri Lanka, in a match reduced to 15-overs a side. Their opponents then needed just 10.5 overs to get the runs, finishing on 84 for two.
India at least managed to get some batting practice in on Wednesday, racking up 173-2 in their 15 overs against Malaysia before rain ended the contest two balls into their opponents’ innings.
Pakistan didn’t even get that far, and privately teams were less than impressed with the decision to send the defending champions through on the basis of ranking, even though this rule was agreed to beforehand.
With such a tight window, and little room for reserve days or a more expansive tournament, organisers can be forgiven for setting up the event as they did, but the weather could yet cause problems.
The rules for the tournament do not change for the semi-finals and final, meaning India, who play Bangladesh on Sunday, could win a gold medal without setting foot on the pitch again.
Fortunately for the organisers, the weather looks cooperative for the rest of the tournament, with forecasters predicting overcast conditions but no rain this weekend.
Pakistan, who take on Sri Lanka, are seeking a third consecutive gold, having won the tournament the two most recent Asian Games editions that featured women’s cricket at Guangzhou 2010 and Incheon 2014.
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