Sunday Championship
HKCC Optimists v HKCC Wanderers
There was an entertaining Sunday Championship derby match at Hong Kong Cricket Club where HKCC Optimists beat HKCC Wanderers by 22 runs.
Wanderers got the better of the early proceedings as Optimists slumped to 3/9 after winning the toss and electing to bat with Tim Cutler dismissing both openers. Regular strikes kept the Optimists batsmen at bay and the top five batsmen were all back in the clubhouse with only 51 runs on the board. A middle-order fightback led by Miles Richardson (56), with useful contributions from Sam O’Malley (30) and Simon Cook (35) got them to a final score of 186 in 45.3 overs. Harry Bailey picked up 3/36 for Wanderers.
Simon Cook dismissed both openers as Wanderers got away to a stuttering start that left them at 3/29. An 89-run fourth wicket partnership lifted the score to 118, with Craig Johnstone hitting 40. Harry Bailey also struck 59 but a burst of wickets by Miles Richardson saw Wanderers slump from 5/162 to 164 all out in 46.3 overs. Richardson finished with 5/33 from 8.3 overs in a devastating spell.
At HKCC: HKCC Optimists 186 from 45.3 overs beat HKCC Wanderers 164 from 46.3 overs by 22 runs.
KCC Templars v USRC/MCC
It was all over before lunch at Kowloon Cricket Club where KCC Templars steam-rolled USRC/MCC by eight wickets.
On a green wicket, KCC Templars skipper Ashley Caddy had no hesitation inviting USRC/MCC to bat after winning the toss and his opening bowlers made good use of the conditions. Adil Mehmood bowled with good pace and accuracy and he was rewarded with excellent figures of 5/15 from his ten over spell. Ibrez Syed chose to attack rather than defend and he was the only USRC/MCC batsmen to prosper, if only fleetingly, with 34. Roy Lamsam mopped up the tail as USRC/MCC were dismissed for 76 in just 22.1 overs.
The Templars’ batsmen did not muck about getting to their victory target, which they reached inside ten overs with Dylan Dearing hitting 36.
At KCC: USRC/MCC 76 from 22.1 overs lost to KCC Templars 2/77 from 9.4 overs by eight wickets.