Neisha Pratt's superb all-round performance gives Hong Kong flying start in ACC Women's Tournament in Malaysia

Neisha Pratt made an instant impact on the international scene as her brilliant all-round performance earned Hong Kong an easy 114-run victory over hosts Malaysia on the opening day of the ACC Women's Tournament in Johor Baru today (Wednesday).

The 34-year-old captain scored 71 from 77 balls with three fours and two sixes as Hong Kong collected 143-4 in 30 overs after winning the toss and bat first.

Besides Pratt, Emma Philips scored 16 as the duo added 56 runs for the first wicket, while Keenu Gill contributed 17 and featured in a 44-run second wicket stand with her captain.

For Malaysia, Zoe Anne Landry, Alessandra Lise Shumugam and Aishah Mohammad took one wicket each.

Pratt then showed her mettle with the ball when she picked up 4-4 in six overs as Malaysia was bowled out for 29 in 25.5 overs. Kaorli Lida claimed two wickets and Godiva Li, Keenu Gill and Kristine Wong bagged one wicket each.

It was Hong Kong's third successive victory after it beat China by 10 wickets in the first-ever match between the two teams in Shenzhen on 24 June, and then recorded a 117-run victory in the rematch in Kowloon.

Elsewhere, Bangladesh defeated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 10 wickets.

The UAE women, playing their first-ever game at this level, were no match to the girls from the Full Member country and were bowled out for nine runs with Panna Ghosh (5-1-6-5) and Shamina Akhtar (4-3-2-3) sharing the spoils. The Bangladesh girls then took eight balls to achieve the target.

On Thursday, China will take on Singapore at the Johor Cricket Academy while Nepal will meet Thailand at Institut Perguruan Temenggong Ibrahim (IPTI).

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.

Further details of the ACC Women's Tournament can be found at www.asiancricket.org