Category: December

Hong Kong Finish Third in Maiden ICC World Cricket League Campaign

Hong Kong capped their maiden ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) campaign with a major exclamation point, hammering Papua New Guinea by 94 runs to finish third in the league.

Anshuman Rath and Babar Hayat – as they have done throughout the WCLC – starred with a 142-run partnership that formed the basis of Hong Kong’s mammoth total of 323-4.

Although a maiden One Day International century again narrowly avoided Hayat, who fell for 89, Rath batted all 50 overs in registering an unbeaten 143 off 137 balls – his second ton in the WCLC campaign.

Rath, who only recently turned 20, finished as the leading run-scorer in the league with 678 runs at an average of 75.33.

From the time Hayat was dismissed for an innings that came off just 80 balls and included 5 sixes, Hong Kong launched 98 runs off the last eight overs – atoning for Wednesday’s encounter where PNG restricted HK to just 60 from the last 10.

In reply, PNG lost early wickets for the second game in a row, falling to 20-3 in the first 6 overs. Nadeem Ahmed again caused problems, taking 2-36 from his 9 overs to finish as the tournament’s equal leading wicket taker with 24.

PNG did recover from 90-6 to post 229 but the result was always firmly in control for Hong Kong.

Although Scotland’s win over Kenya meant Hong Kong could only move up one place into third on the ladder, coach Simon Cook was delighted with the consistency and development his side showed over the two and half year league.

“It was a very good sign of where we are – we posted 300 plus in three games which shows we are getting more consistent in our batting areas, although I thought we left a few runs out there but that score was always going to be tough to chase. Our bowlers stood up again and were counted taking three wickets early,” Cook said.

“The journey you look at with our players a lot of them have come on a lot. The standouts are Anshy and Babar. Babar went up to number three two years ago and has started to take charge since then and for Anshuman to come on the way he has and Nadeem and don’t forget Mark Chapman who has gone onto better things in Auckland so there are a lot of success stories.”

“Very happy with the finishing position – we targeted second but the margins were very small and we were only a few runs away from winning it. It’s a very encouraging time – if you look at the other Associates around us now their age is a lot older than us so it’s a very exciting time for Hong Kong cricket.”

Captain Babar Hayat echoed the thoughts of the coach and was immensely proud of his team.

“Very happy with the way we finished – we could have won this league with the way we lost against the Netherlands. The way we trained and prepared we were right up for it and everything came together.”

“We didn’t know when we started how we would go but after five or six games we realised that we were good enough to contend and at least finish in the top four.”

“The way Anshy has developed in the World Cricket League has been incredible. The way he played today was amazing he just rotated the strike and then lifted the rate at the end. It was great to watch.”

“I’m really proud of the way I played I knew that if I scored runs it would be important our team and it started in the four day game where I took my time and then I got in and scored and got confidence coming into these games. It’s always nice to do well as captain.”

Hong Kong beat Papua New Guinea by 93 runs

Hong Kong 323-4, 50 overs (Anshy Rath 143 not out, Babar Hayat 89; John Reva 2-46)

Papua New Guinea 230 all out, 42.2 overs (Kiplin Doriga 89, Alei Nao 46; Ehsan Nawaz 4-54)

Additional reporting/images: hkcricket

Dongfeng Win Spectacular Cape Town In-Port Race

Vestas 11th Hour Racing and Dongfeng Race Team traded blows throughout the first half of the Cape Town In-Port Race course on Friday afternoon, before the Chinese-French team grabbed the lead midway through the race and stretched away for their first win in the series.

The victory vaults skipper Charles Caudrelier’s team to second place on the leaderboard for the In-Port Race Series, just behind MAPFRE who retained the overall lead with a fightback second place finish on Friday.

“The team did a fantastic job, very nice boat handling and good speed, so well done to the full team,” Caudrelier said after the race. “Our start was not fantastic, but after that we made a good call to tack a bit earlier and put pressure on Vestas and then we found some good speed. That was a key factor.”

Conditions were spectacular on the waters off Cape Town, with wind near 20 knots, under bright, sunny skies. Boat handling was at a premium in the fresh conditions and on the first two laps of the course, there were several very close crosses as the boats approached the turning gates.

Near the end of the second run, Vestas 11th Hour Racing were sailing on an awkward wind angle to the mark and had difficulty furling their big A3 downwind sail in preparation for the rounding.

It didn’t hurt them immediately but when they next tried to deploy the sail at the final top mark, it wouldn’t fully unfurl, and the team was very slow for most of the final run.

“We started well,” said navigator Simon Fisher. “At the second top mark Dongfeng did a great job, pushing us to the less favoured side, which pushed us back into the fleet, which put pressure on the downwind drop, which meant we didn’t have a great furl, and that hurt us on the last run. It’s just a great example of how things can snowball.”

The mistake cost the team two places, as both MAPFRE and team AkzoNobel raced past on the run to the finish.

The second place finish represented a tremendous comeback for MAPFRE who were forced into a penalty turn just before the start, leaving them them the last to get across the line.

But the Spanish team kept pushing its way up the fleet, finally forcing team AkzoNobel away with an aggressive luff near the final top mark, setting the table for the pass of Vestas 11th Hour Racing on the final run.

Further back, Brunel and Scallywag engaged in a luffing match early on the first run. The Umpires penalised Scallywag for an infraction and following the penalty turn, David Witt’s team were trailing the fleet.

At the finish, a hard-charging Brunel nearly stole a place from Turn the Tide on Plastic. But Dee Caffari’s team, who had a very strong start to the race, held on for fifth place.

Cape Town In-Port Race Results
1. Dongfeng Race Team
2. MAPFRE
3. team AkzoNobel
4. Vestas 11th Hour Racing
5. Turn the Tide on Plastic
6. Team Brunel
7. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag

Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Race Series Leaderboard
1. MAPFRE – 19 points
2. Dongfeng Race Team – 18 points
3. Team Brunel – 13 points
4. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 12 points
5. Team AkzoNobel – 11 points
6. Scallywag – 6 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 5 points

Additional reporting and images: Volvo Ocean Race, Pedro Martinez, Ainhoa Sanchez

Tigers Look to End Valley Streak As Kowloon’s Good Form Continues

In the Women’s Premiership this weekend HKFC Ice will be looking to parlay their strong performance against Valley Black last week into a result when they take on Gai Wu Falcons (18:00, KG V). That’s directly after Valley look to remind USRC Tigers why they are unbeaten in 50 games (16:30, KGV).

Kowloon Ladies and Tai Po Dragons are the two sides atop the Women’s Premiership Development league and they meet at Shek Kip Mei (18:00), each having played and beaten the other two teams, Comvita City Sparkle and SCAA First Pacific CWB Phoenix, who face off at 17:30 at Education University Hong Kong.

The Kowloon – Tai Po game should be competitive with both sides winning twice in the Premiership Development. Earlier this season, in the opening game, newly promoted Tai Po prevailed 12-10.

Kowloon coach Jonathan Ho believes his side are ready to rise to the occasion this time. “We’re definitely out for revenge [after losing that first match] and this is a must-win if we are going to top the Premiership Development,” he said.

“It definitely won’t be an easy match but everything is looking according to plan for us. The last two games and our overall performance recently have really boosted confidence and raised atmosphere in the team. If our players are able to maintain that confidence, we can win this round.”

“We [the two teams] play a quite similar style, aiming to play for the wings, with not so much of a forwards game. So it will be about possession and speed down the line and on the wing. I think it will be close,” adds Ho.

Ho has some injury and availability concerns. Fly half Victoria Wong Ching Hei is recovering from a twisted ankle, and remains doubtful. Full back Fung Wai Man and prop Chan Sin Ying are both unavailable. “Every match is a tight game. Our girls are rising to that and we’re building our confidence. We know we are improving but we have to keep working because we don’t have the chance to play with the top teams. When we get to the Grand Championships, I hope we don’t have a rude awakening,” Ho added.

Tai Po coach Tsang Hing Hung has ambitions to challenge the top of this league, and sees the earlier win over Kowloon as one in the bank and wants to defend that success this time out. “If we can win this game, we’ll be top of the bottom group, and that is our immediate goal,” he said.

“We’ve focused on our defence in training. Kowloon have a pretty good, multi-functional attack, with Cindy Yuen as a playmaker. She is a very skillful and smart player but didn’t play in the last game against us, so we are preparing for that. But We are also really confident in our attack and if we can organise our defence, we can win this game,” continues Tsang.

The Premiership was perhaps a tougher challenge than Tsang had anticipated. “We were a little bit disappointed to end [the first part of the season] in the bottom four. Our target was to be top four but we lost a close game against Football Club while we had players away on national duty. But being in the bottom four is good for our development. The level here is quite close, and allows us to develop some of our young girls. Now our aim is to be top of this group,” he observes.

Tsang will be without key players as youngster Lam Tim Yeung and veteran Ivy Kwong Sau Yan, as well as Poon Hoi Yan and Chan Tsz Ching are all away on national duty.

In the Women’s National League 2, leaders SCAA CWB Lammergeier will hope to take home the WNL2 Challenge Shield for a fourth consecutive week when they play eighth-placed City RFC Twinkles (4pm, HKIED). Revolution SRC, who last week took possession of the WNL1 Challenge Shield, are on a bye this week.

Additional reporting/images: hkru

Joey Yung and Twins – All, Hands Up and Dance

Celebrating their long friendship Cantopop diva Joey Yung and pop duo Twins, two of the biggest names in local music over the past twenty years, are releasing a song together entitled All, Hands Up and Dance.

“It’s thrilling that we have finally been able to join together for our first-ever musical collaboration after 20 years,” said Joey Yung. “It took us all back to some of the amazing times and sweet memories we have shared over the years. This song is a tribute to our 20 years of friendship.”

A three-day shoot at the Golden Reel in Macau saw the ladies create a music video, which will officially launch in January 2018. The song marks the first time that Joey Yung has worked with Gillian Chung and Charlene Choi despite knowing each other for 20 years.

Hong Kong secure World Cup Qualifier Berth With Win Over PNG

Hong Kong sealed their place in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers as captain Babar Hayat helped his team to 23-run win over Papua New Guinea.

With the top four teams from the World Cricket League Championship progressing to the qualifiers in Zimbabwe next year, Hong Kong knew that a victory over PNG in one of their two matches would be enough to book their ticket.

They did that on the back of inspirational skipper Babar Hayat, who backed up his marathon unbeaten 214 against PNG in the First Class game last week with a match-high top score of 77 from 120 balls.

He shared 50-run partnerships with Anshuman Rath (37) and debutant Scott McKechnie (29) as Hong Kong built a strong platform at 177-3 with eight overs to go. But some accurate PNG bowling at the death restricted HK to 230 from 50 overs on what was a good batting surface.

In reply, Hong Kong got a dream start with Nadeem Ahmed (2-31) striking in the very first over. Tanwir Afzal (2-32) then struck twice more and Aizaz Khan (1-37) picked up a wicket with his first ball to reduce PNG to 4-30 in the 10th over.

But Mahura Dai and Sese Bau rebuilt the PNG innings with a 98-run stand to get the Hong Kong heart-rates rising. Nadeem provided the crucial breakthrough and Hong Kong continued to chip away through the lower order with PNG keeping the required rate under control deep into the chase.

Though eventually two run-outs in the 46th over sealed the contest and Hong Kong will now play PNG in their final World Cricket League Championship match looking to potentially finish as high as second on the ladder.

Simon Cook said after the match, “End of a long journey which started over two years ago, so to culminate now in our qualification is fantastic and we look forward to try and finish as high up the table as we can in the last game. The roller coaster nature of this game meant it was quite relieving to get off the field with a win.”

“It’s great to get qualification but there is still one game to go and there is still a chance to finish second, which is important for the sports institute points so there’s still something on the last game, ” added Cook.

“The achievement is huge, this is our first year in the top division and to come from where we were in Division 3 to where we are now, we are up there challenging, and if results went our way in the other game we would have had a shot at first place. All of the losses that we’ve had were within our control at stages and a win in one of those and that’s the difference between potentially winning this league.”

“With the population and facilities we have, this is unbelievable what the players have done against countries with far more resources and facilities. We have a young nucleus of a side and we have now retained our World Cricket League spot for the next cycle as well, which will allow them to kick on further.”

“The total we got was probably 30 runs light, we were very slow in the middle of the game in rotating the strike and the boundaries didn’t come.”

“Having the good start with the ball was crucial and then the partnership in the middle started to take the game away from us but a rush of blood from Dai saw him get caught on the boundary and that was the turning point to get us back in it and put the screws on.”

“Babar’s getting runs consistently, it was a little bit slow but it shows where he is at now in that he makes 77 and he is still a bit critical of himself so that’s an indication of how far we’ve come and that we need to do more than just making scores.”

Hong Kong 230/8 beat PNG 207 all out by 23 runs

Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 9 December, 2017

Gai Wu Beat USRC as Valley Win 50th Consecutive Game

In the Women’s Premiership Gai Wu Falcons battled to 22-8 win over USRC Tigers, while Valley Black held off HKFC Ice 27-17 to win their 50th consecutive game!

The Women’s Premiership Development league saw wins for the two form teams as Tai Po Dragons beat CWB Phoenix 22-5, and Kowloon Ladies overcame City Sparkle 20-0.

After a 17-17 draw with Gai Wu last time out and looking to go one step further, Tigers made an assured start with a period of controlled rugby including a 10th-minute attack that saw the ball passed smartly along their backline to reach Natasha Olson-Thorne, who slipped two defenders to go over. Off the restart, a penalty 15 metres from the posts was well-kicked by Charlotte Myrans, to give the Tigers an 8-0 lead.

Gai Wu improved as the half wore on, pressing USRC back and securing turnovers and penalties from which teenager Chui Kam Chi and veteran Man Po Kei collected tries as a perhaps over-confident Tigers side forwent their successful kicking tactics and attempted to play their way out of trouble.

Just before the break, winger Chong Ka Yan scored a third, for a 15-8 Gai Wu half-time lead, finding space on the left out of broken play.

In the second period, the two sides were more matched as attacks at both ends were defended firmly, or lost through errors. However one multi-phase effort by Gai Wu bore fruit when Lee Tsz Ting put Greer Muir through a gap in the Tigers line to score close to the posts, converted by Lee Tsz Ching.

Gai Wu coach Lai Yiu Pang felt he had correctly called the game. “I said that the team that made the fewest mistakes would win. We were that team, and I think this was our best performance of the whole season. We have quite a few of our more experienced players away, and so put out a young team. Our back line especially are all around 20-21, except for Candy [Cheng Tsz Ting], who marshalled them expertly, and our back three did a great job handling incoming long kicks that we could then turn to attacks,” he said.

“In the second half we made good chances, and although we let them run to our 22, we defended well and I was pleased with that,” added Lai.

Tigers coach Fan Shun Kei also took a lot of positives from the game. “We played strongly for the first 20 minutes but later in the half got pegged and then made a few mistakes, which Gai Wu capitalised on. Our players got a bit overexcited with the early success and wanted to play the ball instead of kicking out,” said Fan.

“In the second half we were a lot more disciplined, and if we had taken any of four good chances could have been pushing for the win. Gai Wu’s lineout was not great and we stole a few balls, but made too many execution mistakes,” Fan continued.

“Overall, I see big progress from last year. Then, our games against Gai Wu were one-way traffic, but this year we have a draw and a close game. We’ve added a few elements to the team. Now we just need to take our attitude up a level. We’ve got a lot of positives but we still need to improve ourselves,” concluded Fan.

In the other Premiership game, Valley Black notched their 50th consecutive win, a remarkable achievement, over three seasons. Valley scored two early tries but failed to press home their advantage and allowed Football Club to reply with three of their own, including either side of half-time, to ensure a fiercely competitive second half.

In the Women’s National League 1, USRC Tigers 2 had to be content with a two-week hold on the NL 1 Challenge Shield as they were beaten 42-10 by Revolution SRC, who face HKCC Ladies in two weeks’ time.

In the Women’s NL 2 CWB Lammergeier held onto National League 2 Challenge Shield for a third week with a 56-0 win over University RFC Ladies.

Additional reporting and images: hkru

Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 2 December, 2017