India vs Hong Kong Highlights, Women's Asia Cup: India advance to semis with 137-run win

That's all for the night - It was a lopsided affair as India confirmed their place in the semi-finals with a comprehensive win. With this loss, Hong Kong, China are only mathematically in contention, and it is a similar story for Thailand. Pakistan, who have 2 games left, are in a much stronger position. India's next assignment sees them take on Pakistan on September 5, while Hong Kong, China will face Pakistan on September 7. The action continues on Friday, September 4, when UAE take on Indonesia, with the first ball to be bowled at 2.30 pm GMT (8 pm IST). Until next time, see you and goodbye.

The skipper of India Women - Harmanpreet Kaur begins by pointing out the positives. She says that Smriti and Shefali played really well and helped them to post a huge total on the board. Reckons that the pitch was a lot better than the previous one, but she feels they still have to take a lot of notes to take regarding the conditions. She then acknowledges the concerns surrounding the middle order, explaining that batting first on this pitch helped them to adapt to conditions, while expressing satisfaction that the team still achieved their target of posting close to 200 before the bowlers completed the job. Regarding team selection ahead of the semifinals, she states that the playing XI is largely sorted, though the management will take the remaining time to assess whether any adjustments or shifts in responsibilities are needed. She further expresses gratitude for having Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in the national squad, noting that leading them is a privilege and commending Smriti for her crucial knock and Sharma for her consistent hard work. She concludes by praising the Hong Kong team for their joyous celebrations on the field, sharing that observing their enthusiastic approach served as a powerful reminder for top-tier teams to continue enjoying the game even amidst intense competition.

The captain of Hong Kong, China Women - Natasha Miles starts by highlighting the positives, noting that her team bowled well in phases and had the game firmly in their hands for the first 10 to 12 overs before Smriti Mandhana played a top-class innings that showed India's true quality. Miles then acknowledges that while executing their plans was key, they were fully aware of the challenge of facing world-class opposition and knew they had to maintain standard bowling throughout. She emphasises that her team simply needs more exposure at this level to build belief, explaining that competing against higher-ranked teams is essential for gaining confidence. Ends up by sharing insights from a conversation with Harmanpreet Kaur, stating that the main takeaway for her side going forward is adopting that same level of bravery, specifically the confidence and commitment to play big shots right from ball one.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - No prizes for guessing, Smriti Mandhana takes home the award for her entertaining knock of 124 off 64 balls, studded with 14 fours and 7 sixes. When asked if she wants to dedicate this award to anyone, she says she did not have anyone specific in mind, but wants to dedicate her century to her family. On the adjustments she made, she says the team had watched a few videos of the Hong Kong, China bowlers but did not know much about them, so it was about forgetting everything and adjusting to the pace once they came up against them. Jokes that full tosses are not her strength, but she was happy to put a few of them away, while acknowledging that they can either go for a six or get you out.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Too hot to handle - With 193 on the board, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Hong Kong, China Women, and their task was made all the more difficult by the disciplined bowling from the Indian seamers upfront before the spinners took over. Marina Lamplough was the only one able to show any real spark. After the impressive effort she put in during the campaign opener, she looked confident again tonight and tried to take the attack to the Indian bowlers.

The night belonged to Mandhana - Oh, yes, it certainly did, with the number of milestones she ticked off on her way to her career-best T20I score of 124. She went past Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket and also moved to the top of the women's international century charts, going past Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt with her 18th international hundred. Mandhana nearly batted through the entire 20 overs, which helped their cause on a sluggish surface. For the rest of the batting, barring Shafali Verma, it was a struggle.

India flex their muscles - Two emphatic wins for the Women in Blue, and by doing so, they have become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals. Hong Kong, China Women could not put up any sort of fight with the bat and, even with the ball, they lacked the consistency needed to challenge the might of the Indian batting unit.

16.2: Sree Charani to Shanzeen Shahzad, OUT! STUMPED! Sharp work by Richa Ghosh and that's that for the game. India win by 137 runs and book their place in the semis. Flighted up, on off. Shanzeen Shahzad lunges and has a swing at it. The ball drops on her before spinning past the outside edge. Her back leg gets lifted as Richa Ghosh breaks the stumps in a flash. The third umpire is called into action. The replays confirm that Shahzad's back leg was in the air when the stumps were broken.

Another stumping appeal. Richa Ghosh looks pretty confident.

16.1: Sree Charani to Shanzeen Shahzad, Short and around off, Shanzeen Shahzad stabs it down on the off side.

Ruchitha Venkatesh is the last batter.

15.6: Deepti Sharma to Shanzeen Shahzad, OUT! JOYLEEN KAUR IS RUN OUT! India are just one wicket away from sealing a spot in the semis. Shortish again from Sharma, turning into the batter. Shahzad flicks it to short fine leg.  Kaur calls for a quick single. At first Shahzad hesitates, but then she commits to it. Smriti Mandhana gets to the ball, picks it up and fires it at the keeper's end, with Richa Ghosh dislodging the stumps. Joyleen Kaur has to dive, and the decision has gone upstairs. After watching several replays, the third umpire is convinced that Kaur is just a few inches away from reaching the crease before Ghosh breaks the stumps. 

Run out check! Joyleen Kaur seems to be in trouble here.

15.5: Deepti Sharma to Joyleen Kaur, Short of a length, at the stumps, Joyleen Kaur slogs it to long on for one.

Another one bites the dust. Joyleen Kaur is the new batter.

15.4: Deepti Sharma to Iqra Sahar, OUT! TAKEN! Third wicket for Deepti Sharma and with that, she becomes the leading wicket-taker in T20Is, going past Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong. Floated it up, fuller, at the stumps. Iqra Sahar plants her front foot to the leg side of the delivery and looks to swipe it away, but the ball takes the top edge before it loops behind the keeper. Richa Ghosh turns around and takes the catch safely to her right.

15.3: Deepti Sharma to Iqra Sahar, Turning in, pitching on a nagging length, on middle. Iqra Sahar looks to flick it away, but misses and the ball hits the back pad. 

15.2: Deepti Sharma to Iqra Sahar, Stumping chance missed! On a good length, on middle. Sahar gives the bowler a premeditated charge but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. She tries to get her bat in line with the bal but is beaten past the inside edge due to the turn.

Iqra Sahar walks in next.

15.1: Deepti Sharma to Alison Siu, OUT! CASTLED! You miss, I hit, says Deepti Sharma. Looped up, full and on middle and leg. Siu gets down on a knee and has a slog across the line. The ball lands and spins back in to sneak past the inside edge before crashing into the leg stump. 173rd T20I wicket for Deepti and she is now level with Thipatcha Putthawong for most wickets in women's T20Is.

14.6: Sree Charani to Alison Siu, Full and angled in at the sticks. Siu clears her front leg and swipes it away to deep mid-wicket for a run.

14.5: Sree Charani to Alison Siu, Nicely bowled. Drifting in before turning away, on a good length. Siu has a tentative prod at the ball and is beaten past the outside edge.

Alison Siu walks out to bat in her 100th T20I.

14.4: Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, OUT! CAUGHT! That is a fine catch by Nandani Sharma. This is a short-length delivery from Charani, pitching it just outside off and turning away. Marina Lamplough presses back to flick it away, but the ball spins away to catch the leading edge before it loops towards cover. Nandani Sharma charges across to her left and dives to take the catch inches off the turf.

14.3: Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, Not out! Just a shade behind the fuller length, outside off. Marina yet again looks to heave it across the line, but Richa Ghosh gloves it and crashes the stumps, appealing for the stumping. However, the third umpire has been called into the action. The batter's back foot was out of the popping crease for a moment, but she managed to plonk it back. 

Stumping check. Marina Lamplough's back leg did get dragged out of the crease, but she has managed to slide it back in time, the replays confirm.

Richa Ghosh has been pinged on the helmet. The physio is out for the concussion check.

14.2: Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, Short of a length, slanting in, around off and middle. Marina Lamplough gets down on one knee to sweep it away, but the ball hits the batter's hips, and then the ball deflects off to hit the helmet of Richa Ghosh. There's a slight appeal from the bowler, but the umpire remains unmoved.

14.1: Sree Charani to Shanzeen Shahzad, A touch fuller, angling in, around the leg stump. Shanzeen Shahzad goes deep into the crease and swipes it late to the right of short fine leg for a single. 

Sree Charani returns to the attack.

13.6: Nandani Sharma to Marina Lamplough, So nearly another wicket! Slower one by Sharma, on a good length. Lamplough tries the reverse but she is early into the shot. The ball pops up off the forearm and lobs over the head of the keeper before landing safely in front of short fine leg.

13.5: Nandani Sharma to Shanzeen Shahzad, Pace on, full and on off. Shahzad knocks it to deep cover for one.

13.4: Nandani Sharma to Shanzeen Shahzad, Pace off, full in length, on off. Shanzeen Shahzad has a heave across the line. She mistimes it to mid-wicket.

The new batter is Shanzeen Shahzad.

13.3: Nandani Sharma to Maryam Bibi, OUT! CAUGHT! The change of pace does the trick for Nandani Sharma. She bowls the back-of-the-hand slower one, fuller in length, just outside off. Maryam Bibi falls into the trap has wants to hit it down the ground, but fails to time it right. The ball flies toward long on, and it is once again Shafali Verma, who runs a bit to her left and pouches it safely into her hands near her midriff. Hong Kong, China Women lose their fifth wicket with 52 runs on the board.

13.2: Nandani Sharma to Maryam Bibi, Slower one now, from Sharma, outside off, Maryam Bibi attempts to heave it across but misses.

13.1: Nandani Sharma to Maryam Bibi, Nearly dragged on! Back of a length, angling in, just outside off. Bibi looks to cut it away, but gets an inside edge. The ball goes past the stumps and rolls away toward deep fine leg. The deep third runs to her left and cuts it to two runs. 

Pace is back on through Nandani Sharma. Richa Ghosh is standing up to the stumps.

12.6: Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, FOUR! Hammered away. The 50 is up for Hong Kong, China Women. Flighted up, on middle. Lamplough brings out the broom and connects well. Rolls her wrists over the ball and hits it to the right of deep mid-wicket for four more.

12.5: Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, FOUR! Good use of the feet. On a length, tossed up, on off. Lamplough skips down the track and uses her long levers to launch it down the ground. Shafali Verma is a bit in off the ropes and placed wide at long on. As a result, she stands no chance.

12.4: Sree Charani to Maryam Bibi, Full and speared in at the toes. Maryam flicks it to deep square leg for a run.

12.3: Sree Charani to Maryam Bibi, Flighted delivery, on middle, that is flicked away but straight to the short fine leg fielder.

12.2: Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, Oh, that could have gone anywhere. Fired in from around the wicket, on a good length, on middle and leg. Lamplough goes for the reverse sweep but the ball kicks up a bit to graze the blade before catching the forearm. It lobs over the head of the keeper and the batters cross for one.

12.1: Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, Nearly went to hand. Short and around off, Lamplough presses back to force it away. She chips it uppishly and it falls just short of Nandani Sharma at cover.

11.6: Prema Rawat to Maryam Bibi, FOUR! Maryam Bibi is off the mark. Drifts on the pads, does Rawat, full in length. Maryam gets down on a knee and sweeps it down towards the vacant deep fine leg region for a boundary.

11.5: Prema Rawat to Maryam Bibi, Hangs it up there, full and on off, Maryam wrists it to mid-wicket.

11.4: Prema Rawat to Maryam Bibi, More air given, full and on off. Bibi turns it to mid-wicket.

11.3: Prema Rawat to Maryam Bibi, Looped up at the sticks. Bibi keeps it out from the crease.

11.2: Prema Rawat to Maryam Bibi, This is pushed through on a good length, in line with the off stump. Bibi gets her bat in line with the ball and stabs it down.

Maryam Bibi walks out to the middle.

11.1: Prema Rawat to Kary Chan, OUT! TAKEN! Wicket number 2 for Prema Rawat, and she is just loving it. A touch fuller, outside off. Kary Chan gets down on one knee and looks to slog it across, but ends up hitting it from the toe end of the bat. The ball goes only as far as long on and it is Shafali Verma who stands still and reverse scoops it near her chest. 

10.6: Kranti Gaud to Marina Lamplough, Gaud follows the batter with a length ball as she backs away. Lamplough has a heave across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads.

10.5: Kranti Gaud to Marina Lamplough, Tucking the batter up for room, on a good length. Lamplough attempts the reverse and somehow manages to get it away towards backward point off the splice of the bat.

10.4: Kranti Gaud to Marina Lamplough, Nails the yorker, right at the toes. Lamplough advances but is yorked as the ball goes under her bat.

10.3: Kranti Gaud to Marina Lamplough, A play and a miss. Angled in before it straightens off the deck, on a good length. Marina pushes out in front of her body and is beaten past the outside edge.

10.2: Kranti Gaud to Marina Lamplough, FOUR! In the gap. Into the wicket, on off. Lamplough gets her hands high and gets on top of the bounce. Smacks the pull between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for a boundary.

10.1: Kranti Gaud to Marina Lamplough, Full and sprayed down leg. Marina Lamplough fails to help it away. Wide not given and rightly so, as the ball was inside the tramline on the leg side.

9.6: Prema Rawat to Kary Chan, Short, on middle and leg, Kary Chan clips it to mid-wicket. 

9.5: Prema Rawat to Marina Lamplough, Short, on middle, Marina Lamplough flicks it to deep square leg for a single,

With the fall of the skipper, the umpires have called for the DRINKS BREAK. India have been pretty disciplined with the ball so far. The pacers set the tone in the Powerplay, and the spinners have carried that on through the middle overs. Hong Kong, China Women do not face the quality of an attack like this often, and they have found it difficult to score freely. At the same time, this is a challenge they should relish and look to make the most of in any way they can. Marina Lamplough walks out to bat.

9.4: Prema Rawat to Natasha Miles, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Two wickets in two overs for India. Prema Rawat has her maiden international wicket. Short in length from Rawat, pitching it well outside off and turning it away from the right-hander. Natasha Miles goes after the ball. She offers a cut shot, but the ball gets some extra bounce off the deck and takes the outside edge before nestling into the gloves of Richa Ghosh. Hong Kong, China Women are now 31/3.

9.3: Prema Rawat to Kary Chan, Fuller and wide outside off. Chan punches it to mid off and gets a single. 

9.2: Prema Rawat to Kary Chan, Prema Rawat comes around the wicket for the left-hander. Bowls it much shorter and wide outside off. Kary Chan looks to slap it through cover but misses the connection.

9.1: Prema Rawat to Natasha Miles, Fuller, on middle, Natasha Miles clips it off her pads to square leg for one.

8.6: Deepti Sharma to Kary Chan, Drops it short, on off, Chan punches it to cover.

8.5: Deepti Sharma to Kary Chan, Across off, on a good length. Chan waits back and steers it to backward point.

Kary Chan is the new batter.

8.4: Deepti Sharma to Yasmin Daswani, OUT! CAUGHT! Deepti Sharma breaks through. Sharma drags her length back, just outside off. Yasmin Daswani clears her front foot and attempts to heave it over the mid-wicket region for a boundary, but fails to get the elevation. Bharti Fulmali in the short mid-wicket region hops a bit to reverse-scoop the catch. Hong Kong, China Women lose their second wicket with 29 on the board.

8.3: Deepti Sharma to Yasmin Daswani, Much fuller, just behind the yorker length, but turning down the leg side. Yasmin Daswani tickles it away, past the short fine leg fielder for a brace. 

8.2: Deepti Sharma to Natasha Miles, Tossed up, fuller, at the stumps, Miles drives it to long on for one.

8.1: Deepti Sharma to Natasha Miles, Fuller, on middle, Miles flicks it to square leg.

7.6: Prema Rawat to Natasha Miles, In the air... lands safely! Just a yard behind the fuller length, outside off, turning away from the right-hander. Natasha Miles tries to work it leg side, but the ball catches the top edge. The ball loops beyond the cover region and drops much short of the charging sweeper cover. Single taken. 

7.5: Prema Rawat to Yasmin Daswani, Full-length delivery, flatter trajectory this time, outside off. Yasmin Daswani knocks it through cover and gets another single. 

7.4: Prema Rawat to Natasha Miles, Slightly shorter, outside off, Natasha Miles slaps it through cover and gets a single.

7.3: Prema Rawat to Yasmin Daswani, On a nagging length, around off. Yasmin Daswani drags it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

7.2: Prema Rawat to Natasha Miles, Short, just outside off. Natasha Miles rocks back and guides it late to the left of short third for one.

7.1: Prema Rawat to Natasha Miles, Was that a chance? Nope, it fell short. Full-length delivery, just outside off. Natasha Miles drives it back to the bowler a bit uppishly. Prema Rawat gets low but the ball gets to her on one bounce.

A slight hold-up, as Natasha Miles has called for some fluids. The leggie Prema Rawat has been introduced into the attack.

6.6: Deepti Sharma to Natasha Miles, A touch fuller, on middle. Natasha Miles flicks it to the right of square leg and gets a single. 

6.5: Deepti Sharma to Natasha Miles, Pitches it up, around middle, turning in. Natasha Miles clips it to short fine leg.

6.4: Deepti Sharma to Natasha Miles, Keeps it full, on off, defended by Miles.

6.3: Deepti Sharma to Natasha Miles, FOUR! That is a terrific shot from the skipper of Hong Kong, China Women! Tossed up, fuller, on off and middle. Natasha Miles gets down on one knee and slog sweeps it over mid-wicket for four runs. 

6.2: Deepti Sharma to Natasha Miles, Full, on off, Miles pushes it back to the bowler.

6.1: Deepti Sharma to Natasha Miles, Beaten! Floated up, fuller, just outside off. Natasha Miles looks to to slog it away, but gets beaten on the outside edge. 

Done with the Powerplay. Deepti Sharma comes into the attack.

5.6: Sree Charani to Yasmin Daswani, FOUR BYES! That has beaten everyone. Turning away, on a nagging length, outside off. Yasmin shuffles across and tries to drag it away on the leg side but is beaten by the turn. Richa Ghosh is blindsided by the batter standing in front of her, and the ball flies past her right hand before racing down to the deep third fence. An underwhelming Powerplay as Hong Kong, China Women end on 16/1.

5.5: Sree Charani to Yasmin Daswani, Make that four dots on the bounce. Shorter and on off, Yasmin taps it to cover.

5.4: Sree Charani to Yasmin Daswani, Three dots in a row. Flatter and shorter, outside off. Daswani atttempts the reverse but fails to connect.

5.3: Sree Charani to Yasmin Daswani, A swing and a miss. Looped up, full and outside off. Yasmin has a swipe across the line but the ball spins away to beat the bat.

5.2: Sree Charani to Yasmin Daswani, Leading edge but safe. Floated up, outside off. Yasmani walks across to work it across the line. It pops up off a leading edge but lands safely behind point.

5.1: Sree Charani to Yasmin Daswani, FOUR! Risk taken and Yasmin Daswani gets rewarded for it. Skidding through, darted in on a length, at the sticks. Daswani walks across the stumps to sweep it behind square leg. The ball keeps a bit low and catches the underedge before going past short leg.

4.6: Shafali Verma to Yasmin Daswani, Flatter and on a good length, outside off. Yasmin shuffles across and wrists it wide of mid-wicket for one more.

4.5: Shafali Verma to Natasha Miles, Angled in at the hips, on the shorter side. Miles nurdles it behind square leg and gets to the other end.

4.4: Shafali Verma to Yasmin Daswani, Nails the yorker, on middle and leg, Daswani jams it out to mid on. They cross.

4.3: Shafali Verma to Yasmin Daswani, Slows it down, shorter and on off, that is punched off the back foot, but straight to cover.

4.2: Shafali Verma to Natasha Miles, Half a shout for LBW! Dragged down by Verma, on middle. Miles gets inside the line and crouches to shovel it behind square leg but the ball comes on slower than she expected. It goes off the thigh pad behind on the leg side. Given as run so there have been a bit of bat involved.

4.1: Shafali Verma to Natasha Miles, Pushed through, flat and short, on off. Miles rocks back and flat bats it down the deck. Verma gets low to her right and dives to get a hand on the ball. It deflects away towards short mid-wicket.

Shafali Verma comes on to bowl her off-breaks.

3.6: Nandani Sharma to Yasmin Daswani, Around the off pole, on a good length. Yasmin jabs it from the crease but straight to mid-wicket.

3.5: Nandani Sharma to Yasmin Daswani, Hits the good length, on off. Daswani stays beside the line and pats it down on the off side.

3.4: Nandani Sharma to Natasha Miles, Fuller and outside off, Natasha gets the width to free her arms and she slams it to deep cover for a run. Smiles exchanged between the batter and the bowler.

3.3: Nandani Sharma to Natasha Miles, The length is shortened by Sharma, angled in at the hips. Miles misses out on the flick and wears it on the thigh pad. As the ball dribbles down the track, Sharma picks it up and fires it at the batting end. The third umpire is summoned for a check. The replays show that Natasha was out of the crease but managed to get back inside in time.

3.2: Nandani Sharma to Natasha Miles, Drags the length back and it is closer to the off stump, seemed like the nip-backer, Miles stabs it down with the bat close to the front pad.

3.1: Nandani Sharma to Natasha Miles, Curving away, full and outside off. Miles reaches out for the drive but it goes off an outside edge towards short third.

2.6: Kranti Gaud to Yasmin Daswani, Swing and a miss! Good-length delivery, outside off. Yasmin Daswani looks to stab it away from her body, but the ball sneaks past the outside edge.  A maiden by Gaud.

2.5: Kranti Gaud to Yasmin Daswani, A touch fuller, around off, Yasmin Daswani drives it back to the bowler.

2.4: Kranti Gaud to Yasmin Daswani, Much fuller, well outside off. Yasmin Daswani tries to ramp it over short fine, shuffling across the stumps, but the ball hits the inside edge and thumps her own pad. 

2.3: Kranti Gaud to Yasmin Daswani, Good-length delivery, around the fifth stump. Yasmin Daswani punches it to the cover fielder yet again. 

2.2: Kranti Gaud to Yasmin Daswani, A touch fuller, just outside off, Yasmin Daswani knocks it to the cover fielder.

2.1: Kranti Gaud to Yasmin Daswani, Fires a fuller one, keeping the line just outside off. Yasmin Daswani predetermines to scoop it over short fine leg, but misses the connection completely and wears it on the pad. 

1.6: Nandani Sharma to Yasmin Daswani, On a length, around off, Yasmin Daswani pushes it to cover and gets a quick single. Daswani gets off the mark! 

1.5: Nandani Sharma to Yasmin Daswani, Full, on middle, Yasmin Daswani flicks it to square leg.

Yasmin Daswani is in at number 3.

1.4: Nandani Sharma to Mariko Hill, OUT! BOWLED'EM! Right through the gate and Nandani Sharma strikes early for India. Good-length delivery from Nandani, pitching it on middle and nipping in sharply this time. Mariko Hill attempts to drive it toward mid off, but that opens the gap between bat and pad. The ball sneaks through the gate and crashes onto the stumps. Hong Kong, China are 2 for 1. 

1.3: Nandani Sharma to Mariko Hill, Off the outside edge this time! Full-length delivery, swings it away, outside off. Mariko Hill looks to drive it toward cover but gets nicked on the outside edge before it goes to the short third fielder on one bounce.

1.2: Nandani Sharma to Mariko Hill, Oh, that could have gone back onto the stumps. On the fuller side, swinging away from the right-hander. Hill pushes away from her body and ekes out an inside edge back onto her pads.

1.1: Nandani Sharma to Natasha Miles, Moving away in the air, on a length. Miles leans across and taps it to the left of cover for a single. Good running!

Nandani Sharma will operate from the other end.

0.6: Kranti Gaud to Mariko Hill, Back of a length, wide outside off, Hill looks to cut but misses the connection. A tidy start from Kranti Gaud!

0.5: Kranti Gaud to Natasha Miles, Just a shade behind the good length, Miles cuts it behind point and gets a single to get off the mark. 

0.4: Kranti Gaud to Natasha Miles, Four dots on the trot! On the fuller side, on middle. Natasha Miles defends it to the leg side. 

0.3: Kranti Gaud to Natasha Miles, On a length, around off, Natasha Miles dabs it down. 

0.2: Kranti Gaud to Natasha Miles, Oh, this one stays low! Another length delivery, just outside off. Natasha Miles gets her bat down hurriedly to block it.

0.1: Kranti Gaud to Natasha Miles, A dot to begin with! Good-length delivery, attacking the off stump. Natasha Miles defends it down the track. 

All in readiness for the chase to get underway. It will be the experienced pairing of Mariko Hill and Natasha Miles to open the innings for Hong Kong, China Women. Kranti Gaud will start with the new ball. Miles is on strike. There is a slip in place. Let's go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Looking ahead -  Hong Kong, China Women started well, but could not maintain their discipline for long. Their lines and lengths began to waver, and they could not produce the consistency required to keep a batter like Smriti Mandhana quiet. Goes without saying that it is a mountain to climb for Hong Kong, China, and it will be a stern test for their batters. Can they put up a fight and give India something to think about? We will be back in a bit for the chase.

Let's hear from the woman of the moment - Smriti Mandhana starts off by expressing her surprise at being unaware of the statistical milestone she had achieved during the match. She acknowledges the difficulty of facing the slower bowlers, praising the opposition for their disciplined Powerplay bowling and high energy, which she noted provided valuable learning takeaways for her side. Reflecting on her batting, she states that she simply loves the game and is happy to contribute, accepting the unpredictable nature of scoring runs, where some days everything hits the middle of the bat and other days produce edges. She shares her mindset of focusing solely on watching the ball despite facing unfamiliar bowlers, highlighting the importance of testing themselves against new teams. She then points out that while the surface kept somewhat low during the Powerplay, it became easier to judge lengths and get under the ball once a batter was set.

A night of milestones - That is what it turned out to be for India's vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana. On the night, she became the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket, going past Mithali Raj. She also moved to the top of the century charts in women's international cricket with 18, going past Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt, while also recording her highest T20I score. The start was anything but fluent, with Mandhana repeatedly finding the fielders and tussling with the sluggish nature of the surface. But she eventually came to terms with the bounce and pace of the wicket and began to find the boundaries with regularity on her way to her 2nd T20I hundred, becoming the only Indian woman to have 2 centuries in the format.

Power on show - A much better batting performance from India compared to what panned out against Thailand in terms of the runs put up on the board. It was Shafali the other night, but tonight it was the senior partner, Smriti Mandhana, who lit up the show.

19.6: Alison Siu to Bharti Fulmali, A massive misjudgment by Joyleen Kaur and the batters pick up a couple of runs. India finish on 193/5. Bowled on a length, outside off. Fulmali has a swing at it but the bat turns in her hand and she slices it high in the air towards square leg. Joyleen Kaur tries to get under it but never really manages to settle herself under the swirling ball. She stretches her hands out to her left at the last moment, but the ball drops well out of her reach.

19.5: Alison Siu to Bharti Fulmali, Shaping away, very full. Bharti squeezes it out to backward point.

19.4: Alison Siu to Deepti Sharma, Full and angled away, Deepti leans on and knocks it wide of cover for a single.

Smriti Mandhana walks off to a standing ovation. Deepti Sharma walks out to bat.

19.3: Alison Siu to Bharti Fulmali, OUT! SMRITI MANDHANA IS RUN OUT! This is the second time Smriti Mandhana has to depart due to a run-out, but today she would be totally satisfied with her performance. A standing ovation from the dressing room of India, which she totally deserves. This is a yorker, well outside off. Bharti Fulmali squeezes it to point, and the batters agree for the single, but the run would never have been completed. Iqra Sahar picks the ball up and lobs it towards the keeper, Yasmin Daswani, who breaks the stumps with Smriti well out of the crease.

19.2: Alison Siu to Smriti Mandhana, Full-length delivery, around the pads of the batter. Smriti Mandhana misses her flick and wears it on the front pad before the ball rolls to short third. A leg bye has been taken. 

19.1: Alison Siu to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Put away. Siu errs in her length as she dishes out a low full toss, on off. Mandhana hangs low and stays deep in the crease. She swings across and smears it away to the left of long on for a boundary.

Time for the final over. Alison Siu will close out the innings. Can India reach 200?

18.6: Marina Lamplough to Bharti Fulmali, Very full, on off. Fulmali digs it out back to the bowler.

Bharti Fulmali is in at number 6.

18.5: Marina Lamplough to Harmanpreet Kaur, OUT! CAUGHT! Not a great delivery from Lamplough, but she still gets the prized scalp of the Indian skipper. She spills out a juicy full toss on middle. Harmanpreet Kaur clears her front foot to smoke it over the deep square leg fence, but fails to get enough power onto the shot. The ball flies toward the right of Joyleen Kaur in the same region, and she makes no mistake in pouching it safely into her hands. 

18.4: Marina Lamplough to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur nudges it to mid-wicket.

18.3: Marina Lamplough to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Now, it's Harmanpreet's time! A touch fuller, at the stumps. Harmanpreet Kaur skips down the track and drags it toward the right of long on for a boundary.

18.2: Marina Lamplough to Harmanpreet Kaur, Tossed up, fuller, outside off. Harmanpreet Kaur extends her arms to flay it over cover, but the ball catches the outside edge before it loops toward deep third for a couple.

18.1: Marina Lamplough to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur drives it to the left of the bowler.

17.6: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Harmanpreet Kaur, Just a yard behind the fuller length, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur pushes it to mid on for a single. An expensive over comes to an end. 21 runs come from it. 

17.5: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Smriti Mandhana, On a nagging length, outside off, Smriti Mandhana taps it to cover and gets across.

17.4: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! A hat-trick of sixes! Mandhana is on the charge. Drifting in from around the wicket, full and on middle. Mandhana skips down the track and gets to the pitch of the ball before tonking it over long on for another biggie.

17.3: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! Now towards the off side! Full-length delivery, just outside off. Smriti Mandhana charges down the track and smokes it up and over deep cover for half a dozen. Mandhana ticks off yet another milestone as she goes past Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket. A night of milestones for India's vice-captain.

17.2: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! Oh my goodness! Mandhana absolutely muscles it away from the middle of her willow. Loopy one from Venkatesh, fuller around middle. Smriti Mandhana skips down the track and makes it a full toss to dispatch it over deep mid-wicket for a massive six.  

17.1: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Harmanpreet Kaur, Fullish, just outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur scoops it to right of short fine and gets a single. 

16.6: Marina Lamplough to Harmanpreet Kaur, Uppish, but far from the bowler's reach! A touch fuller, on middle, Harmanpreet Kaur pushes it down the deck and it goes uppishly. Marina Lamplough dives to her right, but is far away from the catch. The batter gets across for one. 

16.5: Marina Lamplough to Smriti Mandhana, Short and on off, that is punched off the back foot wide of cover for a single.

16.4: Marina Lamplough to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! HUNDRED FOR MANDHANA! 18th international hundred for Smriti, her 2nd in T20Is. With this, Mandhana goes past Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt for the most centuries in women's international cricket. She also becomes the first Indian to score 2 centuries in T20Is. Dropped short by Marina, on off. Mandhana hangs back and lets the ball come on before cutting it to the right of the diving backward point fielder for a boundary.

16.3: Marina Lamplough to Harmanpreet Kaur, Pushed through, flatter and at the sticks. Kaur taps it down to long off for a single.

The Indian skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur makes her way out to bat.

16.2: Marina Lamplough to Richa Ghosh, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! That is not at all an easy chance to convert, but Marina Lamplough made it look so easy. Pitches it fuller, offering a bit of flight around off. Richa Ghosh sits on a knee, looking to sweep it across, but the ball catches the top edge and it is skied towards the short cover region. Marina Lamplough, after completing her follow-through, chases the skier and dives at the very end to complete the catch. 

16.1: Marina Lamplough to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! SHOT! Short of a length, angling in, on middle and leg. Richa Ghosh gets inside the line and pulls it behind square leg for a boundary.

15.6: Alison Siu to Richa Ghosh, In the air... SAFE! Just a shade behind the fuller length, on off and middle. Richa Ghosh walks down the track to smoke it downtown, but connects it from the outer half of the bat. The ball balloons toward the vacant mid off region. The long off fielder charges toward the skier from the boundary line, but the ball drops in front of her despite the dive. They cross.

15.5: Alison Siu to Smriti Mandhana, DROPPED! Would you believe it? Smriti Mandhana has gotten a reprieve in her 90s. Tucking the batter up for room, on a good length, on middle and leg. Mandhana clears her front leg and has a heave across the line. She does not manage to get it wide enough of deep mid-wicket, and Iqra Sahar is in with a chance. Iqra sprints to her left and stretches her hands out to take the catch but fails to cling on as the ball drops to the ground.

15.4: Alison Siu to Smriti Mandhana, BEATEN! On a length, just outside the leg stump. Smriti Mandhana looks to swing it toward deep square leg but misses. The umpire feels that had Smriti been in her normal standing position, it would have hit her pads and therefore, she deems it as a fair delivery.

15.3: Alison Siu to Smriti Mandhana, Much fuller, angling wide outside off, Smriti Mandhana swings and misses.

15.2: Alison Siu to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Smriti Mandhana is just one big hit away from a century! Pitches it much fuller, on middle, Smriti Mandhana sweeps it toward the left of the deep mid-wicket fielder for four runs. 

15.1: Alison Siu to Richa Ghosh, Nice and full, with a hint of outswing, around off. Richa Ghosh flicks it to long on and gets a single. 

Alison Siu is back.

14.6: Joyleen Kaur to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! With this shot, Smriti Mandhana moves into the 90s. Floated up, on a good length, on off. Mandhana backs away and charges down the track. She extends her hands into the lofted hit, going over extra cover for another boundary.

14.5: Joyleen Kaur to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Easy pickings. A bit too short and too straight as well, at the hips. Mandhana hops inside the line and, with backward square leg up inside the circle, she pulls it up and over that fielder for a four.

14.4: Joyleen Kaur to Richa Ghosh, Outside off, on the fuller side, Ghosh sweeps this in front of square on the leg side for one.

14.3: Joyleen Kaur to Smriti Mandhana, Not in control but safe. Hangs it up there, on middle and leg. Mandhana steps out but is not to the pitch of the ball. She has a swipe across the line and it is skied off a top edge but it lands safely down the ground before the long off fielder can get to the ball. They cross.

14.2: Joyleen Kaur to Smriti Mandhana, Serves the off-break, on off, not much pace offered. Mandhana guides it to point.

14.1: Joyleen Kaur to Richa Ghosh, Was that a chance? Looped up, outside off. Ghosh hangs low and drags the sweep. It is hit a bit uppishly and the mid-wicket fielder cannot react quickly. She is late to get down and can only get a hand on it before the ball goes behind for one.

13.6: Maryam Bibi to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! That is a powerful hit. Angled into the left-hander, bowled on a length. Smriti clears her front leg and swings away with the angle of the ball. Clubs it over deep square leg for half a dozen more. 17 runs off the over.

13.5: Maryam Bibi to Smriti Mandhana, Keeping it away from the batter's arc, on a length. Smriti reaches out for it and goes over extra cover. She does not quite get hold of it and it is cut off by the deep cover fielder. Two taken.

13.4: Maryam Bibi to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! Clean strike. Bibi switches to around the wicket for the left-hander, bowls it right in the slot, on off, Mandhana collapses her back knee and holds her shape as she launches it over mid off for a biggie.

13.3: Maryam Bibi to Richa Ghosh, Lands it full, on off. Richa walks down the track and eases it to long off for one more.

13.2: Maryam Bibi to Smriti Mandhana, Full and on off, Smriti lofts it to deep cover and gets to the other end.

13.1: Maryam Bibi to Richa Ghosh, Good effort in the field. Full and shaping away, outside off. Ghosh reaches across and firms the drive down the ground. Mariko Hill dives full length to her right at mid off and saves a certain boundary. Just a single.

Maryam Bibi comes back on.

12.6: Joyleen Kaur to Richa Ghosh, A half-tracker and it keeps low, on middle and leg, that is pulled away through the square leg region for a single. A fine over by Kaur, a wicket and just a single off it.

12.5: Joyleen Kaur to Richa Ghosh, So far, so good from Kaur. She keeps it slow, shorter and spinning back in, on middle. Richa punches it to cover.

12.4: Joyleen Kaur to Richa Ghosh, Three dots in a row! Short and on off, that is cut away but straight to the fielder at point.

12.3: Joyleen Kaur to Richa Ghosh, Slower and shorter, on middle and leg. Richa hangs back and tucks it to mid-wicket.

12.2: Joyleen Kaur to Richa Ghosh, A bit short, on off, Richa taps it to cover.

Richa Ghosh walks out to bat.

12.1: Joyleen Kaur to Pratika Rawal, OUT! CAUGHT! Joyleen Kaur strikes with her first ball. Not the best of balls by Kaur but she will happily take it. Dragged down by Kaur, on off, Rawal makes room to open up the off side, trying to take the aerial route. A tough shot to play off the back foot and Rawal ends up spooning it to point, where Maryam Bibi times the jump to perfection and takes the catch over her head.

11.6: Kary Chan to Pratika Rawal, Looped up, on middle. Rawal hits it down to long on for a single.

11.5: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, On a nagging length, at the stumps. Smriti Mandhana skips down the track and hits it over the bowler. The long off fielder does well to sprint to her left and dives to make a stop. Single taken. 

11.4: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! Banged away! Just a shade behind the good length, just outside the off stump. Smriti Mandhana shuffles across the stumps and powers it over the deep square leg fence for half a dozen.

11.3: Kary Chan to Pratika Rawal, Short, around off, Pratika Rawal knocks it to sweeper cover for one.

11.2: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, Full and on off, Mandhana lofts it over cover and picks up a single.

11.1: Kary Chan to Pratika Rawal, Fuller, on off, Pratika Rawal eases it to deep cover for one.

10.6: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Easily done and with that, India bring up their 100. Sahar errs in length as she dishes out a full toss, on off. Smriti backs away to open up the off side and with a high elbow, she launches it over cover for a boundary.

10.5: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! FIFTY FOR MANDHANA! What a knock this has been from the vice-captain of India. This is just behind the good length, around middle and leg. Smriti Mandhana swivels on her back foot and pulls it flat towards the deep backward square leg fence. It lands flush on the boundary cushions as Mandhana brings up her 36th T20I half-century. 

10.4: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, On the fuller side, outside off, Smriti Mandhana drives it to cover.

10.4: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, WIDE! Slower one now, shaping down the leg side. Smriti Mandhana shuffles across the stumps to ramp it away, but ends up leaving it. 

10.3: Iqra Sahar to Pratika Rawal, Pushes it fuller again, outside off, Pratika Rawal drives it to long off for one. 

10.3: Iqra Sahar to Pratika Rawal, WIDE! Much fuller, but beyond the tramline outside off. Pratika Rawal leans toward the off side to hit it away, but misses the connection. 

10.2: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Sahar sees the batter making room and pushes it fuller and angles in. Smriti Mandhana tickles it to deep backward square leg and gets a single. 

10.1: Iqra Sahar to Pratika Rawal, Fuller in length, shaping it away from the right-handed batter, well outside off. Pratika Rawal lunges and drives it away from her body to deep cover for a single. 

DRINKS BREAK! Halfway through their batting effort, and just as was the case against Thailand, India have laid the platform to go big in the second half of the innings. Even though she has been there since the start, it has been a bit of a tussle for Smriti Mandhana with the sluggish nature of the surface. 25/1 in the 4 overs since the Powerplay, and Hong Kong, China Women have brought a bit of control to the proceedings. However, they need to chip away at the wickets given India's batting depth if they are to keep them down to a manageable total. Iqra Sahar comes back on after the break.

9.6: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, Slower through the air, offering it fuller, outside off. Smriti Mandhana sweeps, but finds the fielder in the square leg region. After the completion of the first 10 overs, India are 85 for 1. 

9.5: Kary Chan to Pratika Rawal, Flighted, fuller, outside off. Pratika Rawal gets on her front foot and clips it away from the inner part of her bat to long on to get a single. 

9.4: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, Fullish, on off, Smriti Mandhana sweeps it to deep square leg for one.

9.3: Kary Chan to Pratika Rawal, Short, outside off, Pratika Rawal cuts it to sweeper cover for one.

9.3: Kary Chan to Pratika Rawal, WID! Fuller, down the leg side, Rawal misses her sweep. 

9.2: Kary Chan to Pratika Rawal, Oh, that looks very close! Chan pitches it fuller, outside off, turning in. Pratika Rawal gets on her front foot and looks to drive it through cover, but while performing the shot, her back leg gets dragged out of the crease. The ball sneaks past the inside edge, and the keeper, Yasmin Daswani gathers it before breaking the stumps. The third umpire is called into action. The replays show that Rawal plonked her back leg in time. 

9.2: Kary Chan to Pratika Rawal, WIDE! Spraying down the leg side, fuller in length. Rawal looks to flick it away but misses.

9.1: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, Tossed up, much fuller, just outside off. Smriti Mandhana gets low and squeezes it to cover-point for one. 

8.6: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Full and sliding in at the pads, Smriti wrists it wide of mid-wicket and hurries to the other end.

8.5: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Angled in at the sticks, full in length. Mandhana strokes it to cover-point.

8.4: Iqra Sahar to Pratika Rawal, Low full toss, on off, driven to deep cover for one.

8.3: Iqra Sahar to Pratika Rawal, Into the wicket, outside off. Pratika reaches out and drags it across to mid-wicket, where the fielder lets it through and concedes a couple of runs.

8.2: Iqra Sahar to Pratika Rawal, On a back of a length, near the tramline, Rawal reaches out and cuts it to backward point.

8.1: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, From around the wicket, attacking the front pad, on a length. Mandhana steps out and drives it to long on for a single.

End of a 74-run opening stand. Pratika Rawal walks in at number 3. Iqra Sahar returns to the attack.

7.6: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Shafali Verma, OUT! TAKEN! A moment of brilliance in the field. Just what Hong Kong, China needed to uplift their spirits. Tossed up, on off and middle. Verma gives the bowler a premeditated charge and ends up getting too close to the ball. As a result, the ball gets big on her. She swings at it, but the bat turns in her hand, and she slices it down to long on. Marina Lamplough charges across to her left and puts in a full-length dive. She takes the catch and also ensures that she keeps hold of the ball even as her elbows hit the turf.

7.5: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Shafali Verma, A hint of turn, on a good length, on middle. Shafali lunges and turns it to mid-wicket.

7.4: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Smriti Mandhana, Floated up, on off, that is pushed away through extra cover for a single.

7.3: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Smriti Mandhana, Dragged down, on off. Mandhana punches it straight to cover-point.

7.2: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Two in two! Flighted delivery, on off. Smriti steps out and takes it on the full. She holds her shape and lofts it over mid off for four more.

7.1: Ruchitha Venkatesh to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Welcomed with a boundary. Looped up, on off, Mandhana clears her front leg and winds up as she powers it uppishly but in the gap between cover and mid off for a four.

Ruchitha Venkatesh to roll her arm over now.

6.6: Alison Siu to Shafali Verma, Drags the length back, on off. Shafali punches it to cover. A good comeback by Siu after conceding a boundary on the first ball.

6.5: Alison Siu to Shafali Verma, Goes past the bat again. Siu pushes the length up, outside off. Shafali gets low in an attempt to run it down to deep third but fails to connect.

6.4: Alison Siu to Shafali Verma, A flash and a miss. Moving away in the air, on a length. Shafali throws her hands at the ball but is beaten past the outside edge.

6.3: Alison Siu to Smriti Mandhana, Low full toss, on middle. Smriti knocks it to long off and crosses over.

6.2: Alison Siu to Smriti Mandhana, Very full, tailing back in at the toes. Mandhana stabs it down on the leg side.

6.1: Alison Siu to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Easy pickings. Too full and shaping down leg, Mandhana helps it off the pads and well wide of the short fine leg fielder to her right.

India finish the Powerplay on a high. Only 19 came off the first 3 overs, but the two openers have since picked up the pace with 41 runs off the next 3 overs. Alison Siu comes into the attack in her 100th T20I.

5.6: Marina Lamplough to Shafali Verma, SIX! HUMONGOUS! Just a yard behind the fuller length, on off and middle. Shafali Verma rocks back and powers it over deep square leg for half a dozen. India are 60/0 at the end of the Powerplay. 

5.5: Marina Lamplough to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Into the gap and four more runs. India are off to a flier. Lamplough drags her length back, and goes wide outside off. Shafali Verma goes deep into the crease and crunches the cut shot through cover-point for another boundary.  

5.4: Marina Lamplough to Shafali Verma, SIX! KABOOM! Flighted and fuller, turning in, around the pads. Shafali Verma sits on one knee and slogs it over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen. The 50 is up for India. 

5.3: Marina Lamplough to Shafali Verma, Very full, on off, blocked by Verma.

5.2: Marina Lamplough to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Shafali Verma opens her arms now. Short of a length, angling in, on middle and leg. Verma swivels on her back foot and pulls it aerially, toward the left of the short fine leg fielder for four runs. 

5.1: Marina Lamplough to Shafali Verma, Short of a length, on middle, Shafali Verma tucks it wide of mid-wicket for a brace.

4.6: Maryam Bibi to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries to finish off the over. Pitches it up, outside off, Smriti Mandhana yet again bends her back knee and hits it with a horizontal bat to power it over wide mid on for another boundary. 

4.5: Maryam Bibi to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! MAGNIFICENT! Good-length delivery, well outside off. Smriti Mandhana picks up the length pretty early, presses on her front foot and drags it over mid-wicket for four runs. 

4.4: Maryam Bibi to Smriti Mandhana, Fullish again, outside off, Smriti Mandhana eases it to backward point.

4.3: Maryam Bibi to Smriti Mandhana, Low full toss, outside off, Smriti Mandhana drives it toward cover-point, but the fielder in the region dives to her right and makes a good stop. 

4.2: Maryam Bibi to Smriti Mandhana, Short, around off, Smriti Mandhana taps it to backward point.

4.1: Maryam Bibi to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Oh, a gorgeous-looking shot from Mandhana! Much fuller, nipping in, just outside off. Smriti Mandhana prods halfway to lean onto the delivery and drives it beautifully between mid off and cover for four more runs. 

Maryam Bibi has been handed the ball.

3.6: Marina Lamplough to Shafali Verma, Shortens her length, does Lamplough, outside off. Shafali Verma crouches low and sweeps it to the short mid-wicket fielder. 

3.5: Marina Lamplough to Smriti Mandhana, Pitches it up, fuller, just outside off. Smriti Mandhana drives it to long off to get across.

3.4: Marina Lamplough to Smriti Mandhana, Short, outside off, Smriti Mandhana cuts it wide of short third for a couple.

3.3: Marina Lamplough to Smriti Mandhana, Tossed up, on off, Smriti Mandhana opens the face of the bat and guides it to short third. 

3.2: Marina Lamplough to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! What a shot that is! Good-length delivery, wide outside off, near the tramline. Smriti Mandhana gets down on one knee and uses her reach to drag it over the wide mid on fielder for four runs. 

A slight hold-up as the two umpires get together. Not sure what the reason was, but we are good to go now.

3.1: Marina Lamplough to Smriti Mandhana, Excellent start from Lamplough! A touch fuller, outside off, angling in. Smriti Mandhana looks to push it from her back foot, but the ball skids through and beats the inside edge. 

Marina Lamplough comes on as the first change.

2.6: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, A low full toss, outside off, Smriti extends her hands and drives it to deep point for one.

2.5: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Fuller and shaping back in, on middle and leg. Mandhana wrists it to mid-wicket.

2.4: Iqra Sahar to Shafali Verma, On a length, a hint of away shape. Verma plays a punchy drive wide of cover and crosses over. A slightly wayward throw at the bowling end and there was a possibility of running one more run on the overthrow, but Mandhana was not aware.

2.3: Iqra Sahar to Shafali Verma, That kept low. Bowled on a good length, around the off stump. Verma looks to play it with a straight bat but it does not rise at all and nips away off the deck to beat the batter on the outside edge.

2.2: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Another one that should have been put away. Full toss, on off. Smriti spanks it to cover where the fielder cannot make a clean stop and allows a single.

2.1: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Missed out! Sahar goes full in search of swing but ends up serving a full toss, outside off. Mandhana cracks the drive but picks out the fielder at cover-point.

1.6: Kary Chan to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Up and over. Flighted delivery, on off. Verma skips down the track and reaches across. Slams it over wide mid off for her first boundary.

1.5: Kary Chan to Shafali Verma, A bit short, on off, Shafali presses forward initially but then rocks back before punching it to cover.

1.4: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, Short and on off, Mandhana punches it wide of cover and turns the strike over.

1.3: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, Low full toss, outside off, Smriti knocks it to cover, where Natasha Miles makes a half-stop but she recovers well and prevents the single.

1.3: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, Wide! Well wide on off, Mandhana is happy to let it go.

1.2: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, Flirting with the tramline, on the shorter side. Smriti flashes but is beaten past the outside edge.

1.1: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Mandhana hits the first boundary of the contest. Floated up, on off, Mandhana gets down on one knee and attempts the slog sweep. She does not quite get hold of it and it comes more off the inner half of the bat. Smriti gets it wide of the mid-wicket fielder and picks up a boundary.

1.1: Kary Chan to Smriti Mandhana, Wide. A wayward start by Chan. Sprayed beyond the tramline on off. Mandhana lets it pass.

It will be spin from the other end. Here's the left-arm finger spinner, Kary Chan. She is starting with a slip in place.

0.6: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Nice and full again in line with the off stump. Mandhana gets her bat down and squeezes it out to deep cover for a run.

0.5: Iqra Sahar to Shafali Verma, Low full toss at the sticks, Shafali presents the full face of the blade and knocks it to long on for a single to open her account.

0.4: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Bowled on a length, on off, Mandhana does not move her feet at all and extends her hands to guide it behind point. The fielder slides to her right and makes a half-stop before the short third fielder tidies up. They cross.

0.3: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Right in the blockhole and it tails back in, on middle and leg. Mandhana gets her bat down and digs it out.

0.2: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Mandhana and India are underway. Sahar keeps it full, on off. Smriti leans on and strokes it through covers. Maryam Bibi gives a long chase and slides to flick the ball behind towards her teammate. Two taken.

0.1: Iqra Sahar to Smriti Mandhana, Sahar steams in from around the wicket and pitches the ball up on middle. It ends up being a low full toss and it shapes back into the left-hander. Smriti reaches out in front and pushes it back to the bowler.

We are all set for the action to commence. The two umpires lead the way before Natasha Miles and her troops take the field. Out walk the two Indian openers, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. Hong Kong, China are starting with pace in the form of Iqra Sahar. Mandhana to face the first ball. Let's play...

Time for the national anthems. Harmanpreet Kaur and Natasha Miles lead their respective sides out onto the park. It will be the national anthem of Hong Kong, China first, followed by that of India.

Let's hear from India's latest T20I debutant - Pratika Rawal says the team has figured out their own ways of dealing with the heat, with her personal go-to being a smoothie and yoghurt. She says it feels like a privilege to play all 3 formats and that being handed her T20I debut cap is a blessing. She adds that the people back home are probably happier than she is about the milestone. On the team's approach, Rawal says they will go with the flow and assess the conditions. Rather than worrying about the opposition, she says it is about focusing on what they can do, competing with themselves and simply playing their cricket.

Hong Kong, China Women (Playing XI) - Kary Chan, Mariko Hill, Yasmin Daswani (WK), Maryam Bibi, Marina Lamplough, Shanzeen Shahzad, Natasha Miles (C) (In for Shing Chan), Joyleen Kaur, Alison Siu, Iqra Sahar (In for Charlotte Chan) and Ruchitha Venkatesh

India Women (Unchanged XI) - Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharma, Sree Charani and Kranti Gaud.

The skipper of India Women - Harmanpreet Kaur says they would have batted first anyway, so they are happy to get the opportunity to do so. She says the key is to get used to the conditions as quickly as possible and adds that there is no particular score in mind, but they will look to execute their plans as well as they can. She feels it is a tricky wicket, with a lot on offer for the bowlers, but if the batters give themselves some time, she believes there are runs to be scored. Informs that they are going in with the same XI as the previous game.

The captain of Hong Kong, China Women - Natasha Miles starts by explaining that the conditions favour bowling first, which influenced her decision at the toss. She states that the team's primary goal is to restrict the opposition to a score between 140 and 150 and then chase it in the second innings. She then confirms two changes to the team's lineup, including her own return to the playing XI. Addressing the match-up against India, she describes it as an exciting occasion to compete against one of the world's top sides. On Alison Siu reaching the milestone of her 100th T20I, Natasha praises her as the spearhead of their bowling attack and congratulates her on reaching the landmark.