That's all from us at Cricinfo tonight. On behalf of M Venkat Raghav from our scoring team and my co-commentator Shashank Kishore, this is Sreshth Shah saying bye-bye. PS. If you're looking for a cricketing way to kill some more time with the early finish - why don't you give Cricinfo Games a shot? There will be new games everyday for you to come back and play. Goodnight and take care.
9.40pm Time to go to Dubai for the presentation, and it's Marina Iqbal, the former Pakistan cricketer, conducting it.
Winning captain, Harmanpreet Kaur: "[Semis, tonight's game, batting order a concern?] I'll start with the positives - Smriti and Shafali batted really well. About middle-order, yes that's why we wanted to bat first to get used to the conditions. It was about spending time in the pitch and getting aware. Still we were able to manage what we wanted as a team, ie, close to 200, and then the bowlers did the job for us. [Playing XI sorted?] I think we are pretty sorted but we have one more day to think about, whether we want to change or want someone else to take the responsibility, but for now we are sorted. [Smriti, Deepti] As a captain, I am grateful that they play for my country. Leading them is a great opportunity. Good to see Smriti playing crucial innings, Deepti keeps doing the hard work. [Hong Kong team] One thing I liked is the way they celebrate. That's a great learning. When you keep playing hard cricket, you forget to enjoy the game. They enjoy every moment on the field and it's a great learning for us. When you're playing hard cricket, you need to keep enjoying."
Smriti Mandhana, the Player of the Match, for her 64-ball 124:"[Dedicate the century to someone?] Well I didn't have anyone in my mind but definitely I mean, it's been a lot of things here and there. I would want to dedicate it to family only. [Adjustments in batting] We had seen few videos of HK bowlers but we weren't really aware. When you come against opposition against people you don't know much about, you have to forget everything and adjust to the pace. [Full tosses] They are not my strength but I was happy I could put a few of them away. Sometimes full-tosses can go for a six or you can get out."
Losing captain Miles: "I thought we bowled well in phases, Smriti batted out of this world and showed what she's capable of. Our bowlers did their best but we have a lot to learn. In the first 10-11 overs, we had the game in our hands a little. [Where could they have done better as a bowling unit?] Consistency of our plans and executing could be better but at the end we were playing a world-class team. [Which areas to work on?] We just need a bit more exposure and get some confidence. All of us can play spectacular shots and innings but you have to learn how to play better against stronger teams and more opportunities. Learnt quite a lot from India - the bravery they play with is something to take back. Of course everybody trains but their ability to do it from ball one is something to take forward."
9.31pm With that win, India become the first team from this group to seal a semi-final spot. Smriti Mandhana and Sree Charani share a smile as the India support staff exchange handshakes. Harmanpreet Kaur walks up to Hong Kong captain Miles for a handshake, with the rest of the team following suit.
India's bowler didn't even have to break a sweat: Nandani Sharma, Charani and Prema Rawat picked up two wickets each, while Deepti Sharma's three wickets kept her atop the all-time wicket-takers' list in women's T20Is. Shafali Verma bowled only one over, and Kranti Gaud, despite going wicketless, was impressive too.
Hong Kong's batting, though, was disappointing. Marina Lamplough showed some spirit with her shot-making with 14 off 15 balls, but no one else could get on top of the bowlers. There were eight single-digit scores, with 15 the highest score, and they lost their last five wickets in 11 deliveries, collapsing from 54 for 5 to 56 all out.
The game had really been set up by Mandhana's 124, which took her past Mithali Raj for the most runs in women's international cricket and gave her a record 18 international centuries, moving ahead of Laura Wolvaardt and Meg Lanning. Fourteen fours, seven sixes - it was an innings that was a delight to watch and to call - but the middle order had another forgettable outing, so to say it was a perfect game for India would not be right either. India face Pakistan next on September 5 while Hong Kong take on Pakistan on 7th.
Kumar : "Smriti beats Hongkong by 68 runs :)"
Shadow-Shell: "I think one big factor with associate players is that they need to get a day job. So it would be harder to focus and train"
Shanzeen Shahzad st †Ghosh b Shree Charani 2 (18m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
Shaurya : "A Smriti over will make this day even better..!!!!"
END OF OVER:16 | 1 Run 3 Wkts | HKG-W: 56/9 (138 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 3.50, RRR: 34.50)
- Shanzeen Shahzad2 (4b)
- Deepti Sharma3-0-9-3
- Shree Charani3-0-16-1
Joyleen Kaur run out 1 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100
Iqra Sahar c †Ghosh b DB Sharma 0 (1m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
M Wai Siu b DB Sharma 1 (2m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
END OF OVER:15 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | HKG-W: 55/6 (139 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 3.66, RRR: 27.80)
- Alison Siu1 (2b)
- Shanzeen Shahzad2 (3b)
- Shree Charani3-0-16-1
- Nandani Sharma3-0-6-2
MBA Lamplough c Pratika Rawal b Shree Charani 14 (24m 15b 3x4 0x6) SR: 93.33
END OF OVER:14 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | HKG-W: 53/5 (141 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 3.78, RRR: 23.50)
- Marina Lamplough14 (12b)
- Shanzeen Shahzad1 (2b)
- Nandani Sharma3-0-6-2
- Shree Charani2-0-14-0
M Bibi c Shafali Verma b NSS Sharma 7 (9m 10b 1x4 0x6) SR: 70
END OF OVER:13 | 10 Runs | HKG-W: 50/4 (144 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 3.84, RRR: 20.57)
- Marina Lamplough14 (11b)
- Maryam Bibi5 (7b)
- Shree Charani2-0-14-0
- Prema Rawat3-0-12-2
