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HK Cricket: Match Reports 16-18 September, 2016

National Players star in Domestic Cricket as Premier League gets underway.

A sunny Mid-Autumn long weekend saw the Hong Kong domestic cricket season start with a flourish of willow. Hong Kong’s national players, including Babar Hayat and Tanveer Ahmad, all performed well for their clubs to show how they have improved with a summer of training and international cricket.

Premier League 1-Day

Little Sai Wan v Pakistan Association
In the season opener for the Premier League, Little Sai Wan (DLSW) defeated Pakistan Association (PACC) with nine wickets to spare.

Batting first, PACC was all out with 120 runs, led by Balal Muhammad (31) and Ahsan Abbasi Ali (26).

DLSW’s Hong Kong spinner Nadeem Ahmed (2/10) chipped in with two wickets, while Niaz Ali (3/30) and Mudassar Hussain (3/11) contributed to keep PACC’s batting in check and deliver a very makable target.

DLSW’s response was led by Hong Kong Captain Babar Hayat, who scored the season’s first century with exactly 100 runs off 48 balls. It only took 15 and a half overs for DLSW to take their opening victory of the season.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/429107/1st_innings

Kowloon Cricket Club v Hong Kong Cricket Club
In the second Premier League match of the day, Kowloon Cricket Club beat Hong Kong Cricket Club in Wong Nai Chung Gap by 7 wickets.

HKCC’s Courtney Kruger scored 45 off 44 balls to lead the team, while James Redmayne added 34 runs as KCC’s Hong Kong bowlers Waqas Barkat (3/23) and Tanveer Ahmad (3/43) limited HKCC to 151 all out.

KCC’s chase was opened by Hong Kong youngsters Aizaz Khan (33 off 35) and Ninad Shah (11). Former Hong Kong skipper Jamie Atkinson’s 63 and Waqas Barkat’s 33 fast-forwarded the chase and brought the away victory at the 27th over.

HKCC’s Isaac Poole took three wickets for 34 runs.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/429111/1st_innings

Championship League Division A

KCC Saracens v KCC Crusaders
In the Kowloon Cricket Club derby, the Saracens beat the Crusaders behind two century-makers.

Batting first, Saracens’ opener and Hong Kong player Chris Carter scored 102 runs off 77 balls. Sunny Bhimsaria also knocked 102 runs. Deepinder Singh added 31 to bring the total to a massive 265/5.

Aditya Kanthan was the best bowler for the Crusaders with 3/32. He was also the highest scorer during their chase with 33 runs. Damian Kelleher added 22 runs but it was not enough. They finished the innings with 136/8.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/428457/1st_innings

Taipan Sky Warriors v HKCC Gap Ramblers
Hong Kong Cricket Club Gap Ramblers started their title defence by beating Taipan Sky Warriors at home with six wickets to spare.

Sky Warriors batted first and were all out for 145. Gap Ramblers’ Satyendra Singh was the top bowler with 3/15, while Tom Ingram and Charles McInerney each took two wickets.

In response, the middle-order batsmen for the Gap Ramblers led the charge. Stuart Tohill scored 44 off 45 balls, while Isaac Poole added an efficient 43 off 23 balls to the victory.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/428656/1st_innings

HKCC Nomads v KCC Tartars
The Hong Kong Cricket Club Nomads beat the Kowloon Cricket Club Tartars in a closely contested match.

The Tartars batted first and scored one run short of 200. Former Hong Kong Captain Najeeb Amar scored 58 off 47 balls, while Muhammad Khan added a half century. They batted through their innings with 199/8. Daljeet Singh of the Nomads took three wickets while S Bhojwani took two.

Nomads’ opener S Ayer led the chase with 79 off 62 balls before being caught out in the 21st over. They were at 113/2. D Singh scored 61 to bring the total within reach, with 190/4 in the 32nd over. A Claire and C White finished the chase with nine balls left in the game.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/428828/1st_innings

HKCC Witherers v KCC Crusaders
Hong Kong Cricket Club Witherers won by 25 runs at home against Kowloon Cricket Club Crusaders.

Witherers batted first and provided a balanced team effort. Four batsmen reached double figures, including M Ashton (44), J Warby (43), T Whisker (39*) and L Ginnivan (21). 181 was their total. Crusaders’ Aditya Kanthan continued his good form from Saturday with 2/33. Ruan DeBruin bowled two for 43.

Crusaders’ Damian Kelleher (39) and Dylan Dearing (38) gave the Crusaders a good chance of victory, but their teammates did not do enough to do that. Witherers’ Tim Whisker took four wickets for 40 runs in seven overs.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/428661/1st_innings

Championship League Division B

Pioneers CC v University of Hong Kong Cricket Club
The University of Hong Kong Cricket Club beat Pioneers comfortably to get two wins in a row.

Pioneers chose to bat first but they did not perform well. They could only score 23 runs all out. Six HKU bowlers took one wicket each.

In response, HKU only needed 14 balls to get the victory.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/428658/1st_innings

DLSW Sarjan v Centaurs Cricket Club
Little Sai Wan Sarjan beat Centaurs Cricket Club by a massive 130 runs, behind Aftab Hussain’s century.

Batting first, Sarjan’s opener Aftab Hussain only needed 73 balls to reach 105 runs, while his opening partner Haseeb Muhammad scored 50. Haroon Arshad added another 80 to help Sarjan reached 279.

Centaurs’ opening batsman G Raj started the chase with 47 runs. Rizwan Masood (38) and Keith Frith (35*) tried close the gap, but the target was proved to be too high.

Sarjan’s Saqib Mahmood was the bowler of the match with 2/18 in seven overs.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/428660/1st_innings

Additional reporting and photo: HK Cricket Association

HK Lesbian Gay Film Festival Opening Party @ Maison Eight – 17 September, 2016

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/HKLGFF-Opening-Party-Maison/i-RCqLDF3

The 2016 HK Lesbian Gay Film Festival kicked off with an opening party amidst the absolutely fabulous views from the Maison Eight terrace. Read more about the festival here and watch some great feature and documentary films over the next couple of weeks.
Click on any photo for the full gallery of images

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/HKLGFF-Opening-Party-Maison/i-c5Xs82C

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/HKLGFF-Opening-Party-Maison/i-v5XGHT3

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/HKLGFF-Opening-Party-Maison/i-B9vQthT

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/HKLGFF-Opening-Party-Maison/i-f94x7xr

HK Women’s Cricket: Twenty20 Cup Match Reports 16-18 September, 2016

Women’s Twenty20 Cup

HKCC Cavaliers v HKCC Willow Wielders
In an all-HKCC affair on the 16 September, Cavaliers beat the Willow Wielders by 16 runs.

Batting first, Cavaliers’ Jasmine Titmuss led the team with 32 runs, while Hong Kong captain Emma Lai added 22. They finished their innings with a total of 76. Willow Wielders’ Annie Ho took one wicket and allowed only nine runs in four overs.

In response, Willow Wielders’ opener Yasmin Daswani led the team with 25 runs, while Ashley Hung scored 12. Their chase proved unsuccessful as Cavaliers’ Ruchitha Venkatesh took three wickets while allowing only six runs in four overs.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/429620/1st_innings

CCC Fung Wong v DLSW Wasps
Little Sai Wan Wasps beat Craigengower Cricket Club Fung Wong by 64 runs on the 18 September.

Wasps’ opener Manpreet Kaur scored a team-high 44 runs. Her partner, last season’s cricketer of the year Shanzeen Shahzad scored 14 runs facing only 7 balls. Yousaf Mehreen added an efficient 33 runs of 29 balls to bring the total to 157. Hong Kong and Fung Wong’s bowler Kary Chan took four wickets for 20 runs.

Fung Wong’s V Wong scored a team-high 19 runs off 22 balls, and Kary Chan added 11 runs off 8 balls in their unsuccessful chase. Yousaf Mehreen was Wasps top bowler with 1/18 in three overs.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/429100/1st_innings

USRC v KCC Maidens
Kowloon Cricket Club Maidens defeated the United Services Recreation Club with nine wickets to spare.

USRC scored 41 runs after getting all out in the 18th over. KCC needed only five overs and two balls to overcome the target.
Scorecard: www.crichq.com/#matches/429593/1st_innings

Additional reporting and photos: HK Cricket Association

Pink Season 2016

Pink Season, one of Asia’s longest running LGBT festivals celebrates openness, acceptance and love in all forms, shapes and sizes. Founded in 2000 by the Pink Alliance, a non-profit organisation that aims to facilitate cooperation and unity in the LGBT community, the festival looks to use a broad programme of events including art, entertainment, sports and adventure to raise awareness and acceptance that an individual’s sexuality doesn’t define them as a person.

Pink Season 2016 runs from the 30 September-5 November, find out more at www.pinkseason.hk. Some of the events in Pink Season 2016 include:

Pink Season Launch Party
Date: 7pm, 30 September, 2016
Venue: Circo Hong Kong
More info: www.facebook.com/events/1760232187522361

Pink Season Bike Ride
Date: 10am, 1 October, 2016
Venue: Tai Wai Rd, Tai Wai, New Territories, Hong Kong
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/312013812469281/

Pink Season – The Art of Brunch
Date: 12pm, 2 October, 2016
Venue: Bibo
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/865814820221898/

How To Start Your Rainbow Family
Date: 7pm, 5 October, 2016
Venue: Standard Chartered Bank, the Forum Exchange Square Central
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1062810933797362/

Pink Season Urban Race
Date: 10:30am, 8 October, 2016
Venue: Shatin, Hong Kong
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/957582207700965/

Pink Season Family Picnic
Date: 10am, 9 October, 2016
Venue: Chung Hom Kok Beach
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1212247512138983/

Pink Season Variety Show
Date: 8pm, 12 October, 2016
Venue: Boo Bar
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/551570588360998/

Double Junk Party at Floatilla
Date: 9:30am, 16 October, 2016
Venue: Central Pier Number 9
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/768344279935296/

Pink Season Fruits in Suits
Date: 6:30pm, 18 October, 2016
Venue: Tivo
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1122829337791238/

Pink Season Trivia Night
Date: 8pm, 19 October, 2016
Venue: Tivo
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1571349876501423/

Pink Season Camping Weekend
Date: 10:30am, 22 October, 2016
Venue: Starbucks Sai Kung
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/241338359594695/

The Rainbow Connection
Date: 8pm, 25 October, 2016
Venue: The Orange Peel
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1035602976522648/

Pink Season Beer Pong Tournament
Date: 8pm, 26 October, 2016
Venue: Trafalgar
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/230715153991437/

Pink Season Sports Day
Date: 10am, 29 October, 2016
Venue: Li Po Chun United World College
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1770949863148440/

Pink Season Halloween Party
Date: 10pm, 29 October 2016
Venue: FLM Bar
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/305680123126843/

Rocky Horror Open Air Cinema
Date: 7pm, 3 November, 2016
Venue: The Butchers Club, Wong Chuk Hang
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1693209190999770/

Out in the Open Beach Party
Date: 5 November, 2016
Venue: Repulse Bay
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1043691085747464/

HK Cricket: Premier League 2016-17 Preview

As the 2016-17 Hong Kong Premier League gets underway this weekend, bc, with the help of Hong Kong Cricket Association Director of Cricket Charlie Burke, previews the five teams competing for the prestigious 1-day tournament.

“It’s a cliché I know; however, I genuinely feel this season’s Premier League will be the strongest yet with all five sides capable of beating each other,” Charlie Burke. “The test will be consistency and game plans as we watch with anticipation who will win the 2016-17 Premier League title.”

“It is great to see players such as Giacomo Lamplough, Ehsan Nawaz, Ehsan Khan and Ninad Shah all come through the Premier League structure and have earned a spot on the National squad.”

“The performance of our national team players in this competition is a critical part of their ongoing selection in the national team and a great chance for some guys that have sights set on playing for Hong Kong to push for selection and potentially even contracts,” added Burke.

The league opens with defending champions Little Sai Wan taking on Pakistan Association this Sunday – 9:30am at Tin Kwong Road. While Hong Kong Cricket Club will face Kowloon Cricket Club at home starting at 10am.

Little Sai Wan Cricket Club
“Defending Champions Little Sai Wan will again be really hard to beat, however the loss of Moner Dar may put pressure on the club’s middle order and responsibility will be handed to the likes of Babar Hayat and new captain Ehsan Khan who has just made his debut for Hong Kong.” – Charlie Burke

“Little Sai Wan are confident to defend our title in the Premier League and will continue to play our own brand of cricket emphasizing on teamwork and commitment towards the club. We have great confidence in our new Captain Ehsan Khan along with vice-captain, Babar Hayat and our coach Ghulam Saqlain to deliver the goods. We look forward to the new season, it will be a challenging one both on and off the field.” – Tony Mehta, DLSWCC President

Squad: Ahmed, Nadeem; Ali, Niaz; Haroon, Arshad; Hayat, Babar; Khan, Anas; Khan, Ehsan (Captain); Khan, Jangzeb; Khan, Waqas; Singh, Amanadeep; Singh, Karandeep; Wasif, Shahid

Kowloon Cricket Club
“Kowloon Cricket Club will be disappointed at not winning the competition last season and go into this season’s competition as favorites with a line-up that includes 7 current internationals, former national vice-captain and two other National squad players along with KCC Cricketer of the year from last season in Dan Pascoe.” – Charlie Burke

“KCC are very much looking forward to what should be an extremely competitive Premier League season. I am especially looking forward to watching the development of our Hong Kong National Players in my squad as the push for selection at the highest level. Players to watch are Ninad Shah, Tanveer Ahmed & Chris Carter.” – Ryan Campbell, KCC Cricket Operations Manager

“KCC are again delighted to be part of the 2016-17 Premier League. KCC has a proud tradition of being part of the PL since the inception of the PL. KCC has won the PL on several occasions. We also at KCC have over the years produced national players and as well as national captains. I would like to wish the KCC PL team a successful season and all you have made us proud.” – Shiroy Vachha, KCC Captain of Cricket

Squad: Ahmed Tanveer; Arif Imran; Atkinson James (Captain); Barkat Waqas; Campbell Ryan; Carter Christopher; Mehmood Adil; Nawaz Ehsan; Pascoe Daniel; Shah Kinchit; Shah Ninad

Hong Kong Cricket Club
“Hong Kong Cricket Club have always been really tough to beat up at the gap and I expect the two new faces from the UK in Buckley and Harte to make a big impact along with some young gun from Hong Kong Cricket in Lamplough and Kapur, they also have an exceptional new coach in Craig Wright.” – Charlie Burke

“The 2016-2017 Premier League season is a very important one for HKCC. We have traditionally done very well in this league and after finishing third last season we are extremely intent on restoring order and getting back to winning ways. We have had a very good pre-season with new coach Craig Wright and a few fresh faces in the squad signals our intent on winning the Championship. The competition is stronger than it has ever been before which is a testament to the hard work put in by the Association to continue to develop the game here in Hong Kong.” Courtney Kruger, HKCC Captain

Squad: Buckley Ryan; Chapman Mark; Cutler Tim; Harte Gareth; Jacquier David (wk); Kapur Raag; Khan Nizakat; Kruger Courtney (Captain); Lamplough Giacomo; Mckechnie Scott; Rath Anshuman

Pakistan Association
“Pakistan Association have probably underperformed over the last few seasons and will be without one of Hong Kong Cricket’s biggest stars in Hussain Butt who has decided to allow the youngsters an opportunity. The off season has seen huge improvements in Aizaz Khan who will no doubt bat high up the order as well as his Hong Kong team mate Tanwir Afzal who has just come off winning last season’s cricket of the year award.” – Charlie Burke

“PACC is ready for the highlights in the Premier League and looking forward to do better in the season with all the talented players like Tanwir Afzal the team captain, Daniyal Bukhari who is a talented batsman and very keen to face new ball. Ishtiaq Mohammed who is a hard worker and great planner, and Hamed Khan who is a young talented player with a great future for PACC and the Hong Kong national team.”
– Kabir Hussain, PACC Team Manager

Squad: Afzal Tanwir (Captain); Khan Aizaz; Bukhari Daniyal S; Mohammed Ishtiaq; Ali Skhawat; Khan Mohsan; Singh Manjindar; Abbasi Ali Ahsan; Khan Saqib; Khan Qasim; Khan Hamed

Cricket Hong Kong Independents XI
“The Cricket Hong Kong Independents XI will have a great mix of some exciting or emerging talents as well as some consistent Elite league performers and won’t be any pushed over this season, in fact I expect a few upsets along the way.” – Charlie Burke

Squad: Balal Mohammad (USRC-MCC); Caddy Ashley (KCC); Khan Akbar (SLCC) Khan Mohsin (DLSWCC); Amjad Haseeb (USRC-MCC); Li Ming (HKCA Pioneers); Mohammad Awais (USRC-MCC); Saad Mohammad (Vagabonds); Sikander Zafar (USRC-MCC); Stiller Matt (KCC); Umar Mohammad (USRC-MCC)

Additional reporting and photos: HKcricket

Mandela Exhibition Opening @ HKU – 13 September, 2016

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Mandela-Exhibition-Opening-HK/i-v59jsD2

The Mandela Exhibition, at HKU’s Main Library until 28 Sept, explores the iconic figures life through six themes: character, comrade, leader, prisoner, negotiator and statesman. Although the exhibition is small it gives insight into a man whose words and ideals many of today’s leaders could pay more attention to. His auto-biography Long Walk to Freedom and collected speeches In His Own Words offer more depth.
Click on any photo for the full gallery

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Mandela-Exhibition-Opening-HK/i-L7GDx5R

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Mandela-Exhibition-Opening-HK/i-DWdHF2M

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Mandela-Exhibition-Opening-HK/i-hMDxZNR

HK Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2016

The 27^th Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (HKLGFF) boldly opens and closes with documentaries. As Festival Director Joe Lam puts it “Both documentaries captures the Eastern and Western LGBT community’s family, friends, relationship and discrimination.”

The festival’s opening film is South Korean documentary Weekends, a real life Glee. Gay men’s choir G-Voice write many of their own songs and are apparently the oldest choir in South Korea. Staying true to their own voices though is a challenge in such a conservative society. Director Lee Dong-ha gives an insight into the gay life of South Korea through the on-stage and off-stage stories of the choir members. Director Lee Dong-ha and 2 members from G-Voice will be present on the opening night to meet the audience.

Closing documentary Kiki is about the vogueing dance fight party subculture of New York that centres around the Kiki Ballroom. It’s a film about individuality and survival and follows the lives of seven people over four years. Filming their rehearsals, performances and personal lives, as they battle against problems such as poverty, homelessness, sickness, discrimination and prejudice.

Opening film ticket stubs are good for free admission and one free drink at the opening party at Maison Eight. Ticket stubs for the closing film audience earn admission and one free drink at the closing party at Koko.

The German/Mongolian production Don’t Look At Me That Way tells the story of a single mother Iva who falls desperately in love with her new neighbour, Heidi. Things get complicated when Heidi is attracted to Iva’s father instead. Actor and Director Uisenma Borchu will be attending the screening to meet the audience.

In the French production Summertime, it’s 1971 and Delphine a farmer’s daughter moves to Paris to break free from her family. There she meets feminist activist Carol and falls passionately in love, but when Delphine’s father suffers a stroke back home, she has to make a choice between her lover and her love for her land…

Documentaries
Apart from our opening and closing documentary, there are several other documentaries at HKLGFF. Chemsex exposes the dark side of modern gay London – a world of intravenous drug use and weekend-long sex parties. While society looks the other way, men struggle to make it out of ‘the scene’ alive aided by one health worker who has made it his mission to save them.

A joint Netherlands/Chinese production Inside The Chinese Closet documents the lives of gays and lesbians in China, who often have to live a double life in order to please their parents and conform with archaic attitudes to sexuality that still exist there.

Asian LGBT Films
Loev about the lives and feelings of the three Indian men of different social status is a rarity because in India homosexuality is still illegal. Sudhanshu Saria’s directorial debut was made in secret with the post-production taking place overseas.

Thailand however has a mature and well-developed LGBT film culture. Love Next Door 2 is a sex comedy about love, friendship and sex; while another Thai film at the festival Fathers discuss a more serious issue, the struggles and dilemmas a gay couple face when they decide to adopt a child.

Hong Kong director Scud’s fine body of work includes City Without Baseball (2008) and Amphetamine (2010) which have earned him a lot of respect in the local LGBT community. Scud’s latest work Utopians is about the fascination a dreamy boy has for his charismatic teacher. The HKLGFF will be screening the Director’s Cut.

2016 HKLGFF tickets are now on sale.

HK Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2016
Date: 17 September – 2 October, 2016
Venue: Palace ifc ($110), The ONE ($95) & Broadway Cinematheque ($85)
Tickets: $110, $95, $85
More info: www.hklgff.hk

HK Cricket Match Reports: 10-11 September, 2016

Heavy rain over the weekend meant only two matches could go ahead in the domestic leagues.

Saturday 10 September: Championship Division B

Hong Kong University Cricket Club v Lamma Cricket Club
HK University Cricket Club beat Lamma Cricket Club by 46 runs in the shortened Championship Division B league-opener.

Opener Chamila Panduwawala was the star of HKU’s innings, posting a very efficient 80* off 46 balls. Ankit Suri scored 31 runs before he was caught in the 12th over. HKU finished the 15-over innings with 152/3. Lamma’s B. McDonald led their bowlers with 1/17.

Lamma’s response did not start well, losing two wickets in the first three overs. C. Davies scored a team-high 35 runs before being dismissed in the ninth over. HKU’s John Wright and Mohammad Ali each took two wickets and ensured that Lamma could only score 106 after their 15 overs. Scorecard: https://www.crichq.com/#matches/426775/1st_innings

Sunday 11 September: Elite League Division A

Hong Kong Cricket Club Scorpions v Kowloon Cricket Club Infidels
On Sunday, HKCC Scorpions beat KCC Infidels by two wickets in the Elite League Division A.

Opener David Varley led the way for the Scorpions with 74 runs, while James Redmayne scored 64. They scored 282 runs with two wickets to spare.

Ateequi Iqbal and Suhaib Ahmad each took three wickets for the Infidels.

In response, Imran Arif knocked 44 runs, while Sunny Bhimsaria and Simandeep Singh each scored 35 runs for KCC Infidels. But attacks from HKCC’s Isaac Poole (3/27), Matt Rafter (2/33) and Anton Buntin (2/11) made sure that the Infidels were all out with only 186 runs.
Scorecard: https://www.crichq.com/#matches/427952/1st_innings

Additional reporting: HK Cricket