Malaysia share points with Nepal after a thrilling tie in ACC Women's Tournament

Captains Arina Rahim , Malaysia and Nary Thapa, Nepal © ACC

Alessandra Lisa Shunmugam picked up two wickets in three balls to help Malaysia share the spoils with Nepal after their crucial Group A match in the ACC Women's Tournament ended in a thrilling tie at the Institut Perguruan Temenggong Ibrahim in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on Saturday.

The hosts looked down and out when Nepal, chasing 74 for victory, reached 73-8 in 28 overs.

However, Shunmugam, in her sixth over, brought Malaysia back from the brink of defeat. She had all-rounder Neera Rajaopadhya, who added 21 runs for the ninth wicket with Sita Rana Mager, stumped and then two balls later had last batsman Samiya Salim caught in the deep.

Shunmugam ended up with 2-13 but it was Nur Aishah who wrecked the middle-order and finished as the most successful of Malaysia's bowlers, bagging 3-15.

Nepal openers Ritu Kanoujika and Manisha Rawal were the joint top scorers with 13 each. The two added 29 runs for the first wicket but Nepal lost its way and slumped to 52-8 before Rajaopadhya and Mager lifted their team.

Earlier, Malaysia batted first and scored 73-9 in 30 overs. After extras' healthy contribution of 21, Arina Rahim scored 16 with the bat. Rajaoadhya was the most successful bowler with 4-8 from five overs while captain Nary Thapa Mager took 3-10.

The results set up intriguing last round of action in Group A. Nepal will take on group leaders Hong Kong at Johor Cricket Academy on Sunday while Malaysia will meet a winless Thailand at the same ground on Monday.

In the other match of the day, China sealed a place in the semi-finals by defeating the United Arab Emirates by seven wickets at the Johor Cricket Academy. The defeat ended the semi-final hopes of the UAE, who had lost its first match to Bangladesh by 10 wickets.

The UAE, however, did better this time when it scored 51 in 29.2 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Wang Meng and Mei Chun Hua took two wickets each.

China, in reply, achieved the target in 14 overs. Jesar Maqsood Shah took two wickets for the UAE.

On Sunday, China will take on Bangladesh. Both teams have qualified for the semi-finals but the match will decide who wins Group B.

The increased profile and role for women's cricket in the region is all part of the ACC's five-year strategic development plan and has seen it release special funds to the non-Test playing teams for preparatory purposes.

The idea behind the drive is to synchronise women's cricket in the region among developing ICC Members and, at the same time, provide the players with match action which, it is hoped, will speed up their understanding of the game and their skill levels.

Women's cricket came under the auspices of the ICC and ACC in 2005 when the ICC merged with the International Women's Cricket Council (IWCC). Before merger, the IWCC had 15 members and since integration the women's game has grown fast and there were now 42 members with formal girls' and/or women's teams playing in structured cricket competitions.

A further 23 do not have competition teams yet but do have girls in junior development initiatives. That makes 71 of ICC's 101 members with some women's cricket and it is growing all the time.