Mei Chun Hua inspires China to famous victory over Singapore in ACC Women's Tournament in Malaysia

Mei Chun Hua led from the front and by example as she inspired China to a 38-run victory over Singapore in the ACC Women's Tournament that gave it a first-ever win at this level in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on Thursday.

Mei Chun Hua scored a rapid unbeaten 26 that lifted China to 112-6 in 30 overs and then recorded impressive bowling figures of 6-3-9-3 as Singapore was dismissed for 74 in 29.1 overs.

China had made its international debut against Hong Kong in June and lost both matches, by 10 wickets and 117 runs respectively.

The Chinese Cricket Association has a ten-year plan to make the women's team internationally competitive. The women's national championship has 19 teams this year as opposed to six last year when it was first launched.

China coach Rashid Khan said the victory was down to the team's sheer hard work. "It is a moment of glory for everyone and only the players deserve appreciation," he said.

"The girls have worked extremely hard in the limited time they had before the tournament and today they showed everyone that they have the talent and spark to excel at the highest level," added Khan, who played the 1983 ICC Cricket World Cup for Pakistan.

Khan said China's victory was also an encouragement for the Chinese Cricket Association. "I am sure there will be smiles back home because the association has high hopes from the women's team. The victory will attract plenty of girls even though we are just beginners," he said.

"We are here to give exposure to as many players as possible and then build the team from here. It is an education tour for all the girls and one thing that we have immediately identified is that we have bowl as straight as possible."

Besides Mei Chun Hua, Hu Ting Ting also batted well and scored a 39-ball 30 that included one boundary while Sun Huan's contribution was 23 from 45 balls.

For Singapore, Pageshwari Pasupatay took 3-29 and Farjana Begum bagged 2-22.

In Singapore's innings extras finished as the top contributors with 37. Yang Meng and Chen Young Juan gave excellent support to their captain by bagging two wickets each.

In the other match of the day, Nepal defeated Thailand by 55 runs.

Nepal, batting first, scored 95-8 in 30 overs with wicketkeeper Madhu Thapa finishing as the main run-getter with 36 off 75 balls including three fours. For Thailand, Wanwita Changsomboon and Supapan Lakkanapan picked up two wickets each.

Thailand was bowled out for 40 in 21.1 overs with Nepal captain Nary Thapa returning figures of 6-2-5-4. Meera Rajoupadhyan took 2-2.

On Friday, Hong Kong will face Thailand at the Johor Cricket Academy while Bangladesh meets Singapore at the Institut Perguruan Temenggong Ibrahim ground.

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.