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Match Report: Fincher Shield, 9th-10th January 2016

Fincher Shield – 9th-10th January 2016

The bi-annual two-day fixture between Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) and Hong Kong Cricket Club (HKCC), for the Fincher Shield, was played at KCC over the weekend of the 9-10 January 2016.

KCC KARP won the toss and elected to bowl first in partly cloudy conditions on a wicket showing a distinctly green tinge. Adil Mehmood struck early to dismiss both HKCC openers with just 14 runs on the board. A third wicket partnership of 69 between Scott McKechnie and Nizakat Khan lifted the score to 83 before McKechnie fell to a catch in the slips from the bowling of Roy Lamsam for 39. Raag Kapur fell cheaply but then skipper Courtney Kruger joined Khan to add another 67 runs for the fifth wicket. Nizakat eventually fell for 55 and Kruger followed with 62 as HKCC were dismissed for 233 in 67.1 overs. Mehmood was the pick of the KCC bowlers with 5/50 from 16.1 overs, while Imran Arif picked up 3/54 from 17.

KCC’s first innings reply got off to a poor start and they were soon reduced to 4/32 as Tim Cutler, Miles Richardson and Anshuman Rath each claimed a wicket for HKCC. Jamie Atkinson and Waqas Barkat settled the home team’s nerves with an accomplished fifth wicket stand and they finished the first day’s play without further loss on 4/56.

The Atkinson/Waqas Barkat partnership added a further 107 runs on the second day before both batsmen fell in quick succession off the bowling of Rath. Barkat (54) was first to fall with the score at 163 and Atkinson followed five runs later for 66. The remaining batsmen could only add another 30 runs as KCC was dismissed for 198 – a first innings deficit of 35 runs. Anshuman Rath was the pick of the HKCC bowlers with 3/15 from seven overs while Simon Cook, Miles Richardson and Tim Cutler claimed two wickets apiece.

The KCC bowlers dominated the second innings as Imran Arif and Adil Mehmood grabbed three wickets each in an explosive opening burst that left HKCC reeling on 6/33. Mehmood’s fourth wicket was claimed shortly after, giving him nine for the match, as HKCC slumped to 7/45. Nizakat Khan (10) and Miles Richardson (30) shared a 29-run eighth wicket partnership but they were the only two HKCC batsmen to reach double-figures in a poor effort that saw them dismissed for 84 in just 23.4 overs. Mehmood finished with figures of 4/36 from eight overs while Arif grabbed 3/27 from 10. Najeeb Amar also grabbed a brace for KCC.

Set a target of 120 for victory, KCC lost Ninad Shah early but some sensible batting steadied the innings before a double strike by Anshuman Rath and a further wicket by Simon Cook saw them reduced to 4/45. Cook’s second wicket had KCC teetering at 5/59 but an unbeaten sixth wicket stand between Jamie Atkinson (22*) and Ryan Campbell (40*) saw them home in 19.4 overs. For HKCC, Anshuman Rath picked up 3/44 while Simon Cook claimed 2/36.

Man of the Match honours went to KCC’s Adil Mehmood who claimed match figures of 9/86 from 24.1 overs including five maidens.
At KCC: HKCC 233 from 67.1 overs & 84 from 23.4 overs lost to KCC KARP 198 from 53.5 overs & 5/120 from 19.1 overs by five wickets.

Braidwood Cup Series: Hong Kong Squad Announced

HK Cricket team 2016

The Hong Kong Cricket Association has announced a 16-man squad to take part in the historic upcoming Braidwood Cup series against Scotland.

The squad will contest a four-day Intercontinental Cup match and a two-game One Day International series against Scotland. The squad for the two Twenty20 Internationals will be announced later in the month. It will be the first time that official First Class and One Day Internationals will be played on Chinese soil.

Coach Simon Cook had the luxury of being able to name the same squad that recently toured to the UAE. “It always makes things easier to be able to maintain continuity in the squad. We had some great performances in the UAE and made some good strides forward in all our cricket. That is in the past now and we must focus on the next challenge. I am looking forward to seeing these guys take their games up another level to compete with a very good Scotland team,” Cook said.

The squad is captained by Tanwir Afzal. Top order batsman Mark Chapman has been named in the squad but his availability for the series will be dependent on his commitments with Auckland Cricket.
Tanwir Afzal (c) (Pakistan Assoc.)
Nadeem Ahmed (LSWCC)
Haseeb Amjad (USRC/MCC)
Waqas Barkat (KCC)
Christopher Carter (KCC)
Mark Chapman (VC) (HKCC/Auckland)
Babar Hayat (LSWCC)
Aizaz Khan (Pakistan Assoc.)
Nizakat Khan (HKCC)
Waqas Khan (LSWCC)
Adil Mehmood (KCC)
Ishtiaq Muhammad (Pakistan Assoc.)
Ehsan Nawaz (KCC)
Anshuman Rath (HKCC)
Kinchit Shah (KCC)
Ninad Shah (KCC)
Jamie Atkinson (KCC)

Braidwood Cup Series – Match Schedule

ICC Intercontinental Cup: Hong Kong v Scotland
Date: 9:30am, 21-24 January, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground
Tickets: Free
More info: First class cricket, 4 day game

ICC World Cricket League Championship: Hong Kong v Scotland
Date: 9:30am, 26, 28 January, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground
Tickets: Free
More info: One Day International, 50 overs a side

T20 International: Hong Kong v Scotland
Date: 1pm, 30-31 January, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground
Tickets: Free

Women’s Rugby Results – 16 January, 2016

City - 16 January, 2016

Premiership

Tai Po Dragons 0-10 HKFC Ice
@ KG V, Kick-off: 18:00

Valley Black 87-0 SCAA CWB Phoenix
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 15:00

USRC Tigers 24-5 Gai Wu Falcons
@ Kings Park, Kick-off: 18:00

Women's Premiership - 16 January, 2016

Valley Red v SCAA CWB - 16 January, 2016

National 15s

Gai Wu Fawkes 0-7 SCAA CWB Pheasants
@ King’s Park, Kick-off 19:30

Valley Red 15-12 USRC Tigers
@ King’s Park, Kick-off 19:30

City 10-7 Revolution SRC
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off 18:00

Women's National 15s-A - 16 January, 2016

HK Scottish Kukris 40-5 Tai Po Dragons
@ KG V, Kick-off 16:30

HKFC Fire 0-65 HKCC
@ HK Football Club, Kick-off 13:30

Women's National 15s-B - 16 January, 2016

HKFC Ice - 16 January, 2016

National 10s

SCAA CWB Pink v University Unicorns
@ Tai Hung Tang Recreation Ground, Kick-off: 16:30

City 20-10 Revolution SRC
@ Tai Hung Tang Recreation Ground, Kick-off: 17:15

DB Pirates pstpd HK Scottish Kukris
@ Kings Park, Kick-off: 16:30

Women's National 10s - 16 January, 2016

Sarah Lee Wai-sze Wins Silver Medal

Lee Wai Sze (HKG) - UCI World Cup - HK, 2016.

Hong Kong cycling icon Sarah Lee Wai-sze was outstanding in the Women’s Sprint taking the silver medal behind Lin Junhong at the UCI World Cup being held at the HK Veledrome.

In Men’s Keirin final, Buchli Matthijs (NED) overcame stiff competition and snatched a gold medal. Results of today’s finals are as follows:

Saturday Results
Men’s Team Pursuit: Australia, Denmark, Great Britain
Women’s Team Pursuit: Canada, Great Britain, United States
Men’s Team Sprint: Great Britain, Poland, Russia
Women’s Team Sprint: Rusvelo, Great Britain, Spain
Men’s Keirin: Buchli Matthijs (NED), Barrette Hugo (CAN), Im Chaebin (KOR)
Women’s Sprint: Lin Junhong (CHN), Lee Wai Sze (HKG), Voinova Anastasiia (RVL)

Lee Wai Sze (HKG) - UCI World Cup - HK, 2016.

Race Schedule
Sunday 17 January
Men’s Sprint
Omnium (men’s and womens, events 4-6)
Women’s Keirin

UCI Track Cycling World Cup Hong Kong
Date: 16-17 January, 2016
Venue: Hong Kong Velodrome, Tseung Kwan O
Tickets: $200, $150, $120 from HK Ticketing

Qianyu Yang Takes Bronze at UCI World Cup-Hong Kong

UCI World Cup - HK - Women's Sprint — The Women’s Scratch Race medals went to Marina Shmayankova (BLR), Laura Trott (GB) and Yang Qianyu (HKG) respectively

The largest track cycling competition ever staged in Hong Kong kicked off today 15 January at the Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O. Co-organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and The Cycling Association of Hong Kong (CAHK), the UCI Track Cycling World Cup – Hong Kong saw some early success for Hong Kong as Yang Qianyu claiming the bronze in the Women’s Scratch Race.

Mr Wilfred Ng, SBS JP, President of the Organizing Committee of The UCI Track cycling World Cup – Hong Kong remarked at the opening ceremony, “The World Cup is one of the most important events on the world track cycling calendar. It is also the key competition in which riders earn ranking points ahead of 2016 Rio Olympics. The fact that the competition takes place in Hong Kong this year under the cheering of local fans is a boost for the Hong Kong Team. Show them your support!”

The Men’s and Women’s Scratch Race and Points Race concluded Friday with Thomas Benjamin of France taking two gold medals in both Men’s Scratch Race and Men’s Points Race. The Women’s Scratch Race medals went to Marina Shmayankova (BLR), Laura Trott (GB) and Yang Qianyu (HKG) respectively, while Jolien D’Hoore (BEL) stepped on the top of the podium in the Women’s Points Race.

In the qualifying races, Australia posted a time of 4:00.947 and secured a spot in tomorrow’s (16 January) Men’s Team Pursuit final. As for Women’s Team pursuit, Great Britain rode 4:19.369 to secure the top qualifying spot. In Men’s Team Sprint, Great Britain set the fastest time to move through to the gold medal race against Poland, while Rusvelo team will face Great Britain for the Women’s Team Sprint gold medal.

Saturday’s race schedule, includes the finals of the Men’s and Women’s Team Pursuit, Men’s and Women’s Team Sprint, Men’s Keirin and Women’s Sprint. Hong Kong Olympic medalist Sarah Lee Wai-sze, who will contend in the Women’s Sprint.

UCI-World-Cup-HK-Women's-Team-Sprint

Results
Friday 15 January
Men’s Points: Thomas Benjamin (FRA), Julio Alberto Amores Palacios (ESP), Luke Mudgway (NZL)
Women’s Points: Jolien D’Hoore (BEL), Jasmin Glaesser (CAN), Emily Nelson (GB)
Men’s Scratch: Thomas Benjamin (FRA), Xavier Canellas Sanchez (ESP), Jordan Arley Parra Arias (COL)
Women’s Scratch: Marina Shmayankova (BLR), Laura Trott (GB) and Yang Qianyu (HKG)

Race Schedule
Saturday 16 January
Team Pursuit (men’s and women’s finals)
Team Sprint (men’s and women’s finals)
Omnium (men and women, events 1-3)
Women’s sprint
Men’s Keirin

Sunday 17 January
Men’s Sprint
Omnium (men’s and womens, events 4-6)
Women’s Keirin

UCI Track Cycling World Cup Hong Kong
Date: 16-17 January, 2016
Venue: Hong Kong Velodrome, Tseung Kwan O
Tickets: $200, $150, $120 from HK Ticketing

Hong Kong to host Scotland in Braidwood Cup Series

The new year starts a with a treat for local cricket fans as Hong Kong play at home, for first time since 2011, as the host Scotland in the Braidwood Cup. The series features the first One Day International & First Class Cricket matches on Chinese soil

In a nod to the visitors and as recognition of Hong Kong’s Scottish heritage, and deeply rooted, though perhaps surprising, cricketing links, the Hong Kong Cricket Association has created an overall series prize, the Braidwood Cup, for the incoming tour. The Cup is named after Scottish expatriate William Drew Braidwood, who founded the Craigengower Cricket Club (CCC) in 1894, the second oldest such club in the territory after the Hong Kong Cricket Club (est. in 1851).

The Braidwood Cup will feature eight days of world-class cricket including the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup match, two One Day International (ODI) matches played as part of the ICC World Cricket League Championship and two Twenty20 (T20) Internationals.

Hong Kong have made giant strides on the international scene since they last played at home 5 years ago, securing ODI status in 2014 after finishing third in the 2014 Cricket World Cup Qualifier and gaining T20 International status in 2013 after qualifying for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

“We’re a different team now to that of 2011,” said HKCA Director of Cricket Charlie Burke, “The players have worked hard for the past five years and we are a much different side. We’re excited about the Braidwood Cup as the players have not had the chance to play in front of our home crowds in several years.”

Hong Kong’s strengths at present revolve more around short form cricket, with Scotland seemingly having the upper hand in the impending Intercontinental Cup clash.

“Scotland have played about 400 games of First Class cricket, compared to Hong Kong with two. Their players are heavily involved in County Cricket in the United Kingdom, so they have more experience in the format, but we have nothing to lose and I’m sure the team will play that much bigger in front of their families and friends,” said Burke.

The First Class, Intercontinental Cup (I-Cup) is the ICC’s Test Cricket pathway tournament, featuring the best eight teams outside of the top 10, or test playing nations.

The winner of the three-year, single round, I-Cup series will play a home and away “test challenge” against the lowest ranked test side. If the I-Cup winner is successful in that series, they will qualify as a Test nation for the next four-year cycle, allowing them to compete in the sport’s highest echelon of the traditional, five-day form.

After the conclusion of the I-Cup, Hong Kong will host two ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) matches. The WCLC is contested by the next eight teams outside of the twelve-team top-tier ODI nations, which includes Associate members Afghanistan and Ireland. The games will be played in the same 50-over ODI format as the World Cup.

The WCLC matches are a priority for Hong Kong as it is the primary pathway for teams to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) in the United Kingdom in 2019. Following the conclusion of the WCLC in 2017, the top half of teams will advance to the CWC qualification tournament in 2018.

Hong Kong (world ODI ranking 15th) is currently first on the World Cricket League Championship table, while Scotland (ranked 13th) is fourth after the tournament’s second round.

“We’re focusing pretty heavily on the World Cricket League Championship’s ODI matches as they format is more conducive to our strengths at the moment than four-day cricket and they offer an opportunity for us to play in the World Cup,” said Burke. “Our goal for the Series is to hold our position at the top of the WCLC table and to prepare for the upcoming World Twenty20.”

Hong Kong who have qualified for the World Twenty20 in India in March-April 2016, are in the same pool as Scotland, along with Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in Group B.

After the WCLC matches, two Twenty20 Internationals will be held as the Association concludes the Series with some big-hitting entertainment for the fans. The final weekend of the competition will also feature exhibition games of HKCA women’s and youth cricket, showcasing the strength of the game in the SAR.

Hong Kong will revel in the opportunity to play at home for the first time in over three years, promises Burke: “We have a young, exciting team, whose average age is just 20 years old. Most of these players have never had the opportunity to represent Hong Kong in front of their families and friends so this is a huge occasion for them; I expect it will be an emotional lift for the players.

“Scotland is a very good side. They’re aggressive and their batsmen like to put bowlers under pressure. The combination of their batting strength and our bowling attack is going to make for some exciting cricket. It will be a good contest between two of the strongest associate nations in world cricket,” Burke added.

“It is great to be able to play at home. There is a definite home advantage in cricket, more so than in other sports because of the importance of the playing surface and how those surfaces differ in every country. The players are familiar with Mission Road, they play a lot of club cricket there and train there as well so there will be no excuses” said Burke.

Burke’s sentiment was echoed by HKCA Chief Executive Officer Tim Cutler who thanked the Government for its continued support: “We’re hugely thankful to the Hong Kong Government and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for all of the work that they have put into Mission Road to bring it up to international standard. We now have a home for cricket and are intent on ensuring that our team, with one of the highest world rankings of any Hong Kong sport, has more opportunities to play at home to help grow the local game”

“William Drew Braidwood’s name is a fitting choice for this historic trophy,” Cutler added, “Besides founding CCC, a club that welcomed members from all corners of the community. Braidwood is also credited with initiating discussions in 1903 to establish the first formal cricket league in Hong Kong; the competition for which the HKCA was formed to administer in 1968. Remarkable achievements by a remarkable man,” Cutler concluded.

The Hong Kong Cricket Association is intent on making Mission Road the home of Hong Kong Cricket and has confirmed that all of the Braidwood Cup Series matches will feature free admission to the public areas of the ground.

HKCA Braidwood Cup Series
All matches will be held at Mission Road Cricket Ground
ICC Intercontinental Cup: Thursday – Sunday, 21-24 January
ICC World Cricket League Championship: Tuesday & Thursday, 26 & 28 January
Twenty20 Matches: Saturday – Sunday, 30-31 January

New Year’s Day White Elephant March

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/New-Years-Day-March-1-January/i-gS9Hrz6

Thousands of individuals and groups marched on New Year’s Day to protest the squandering of Hong Kong’s financial reserves on white elephant and vanity projects that fill the 1%’s bank accounts while doing little or nothing to improve the quality of life for rank and file HongKongers.
Click on any image for the full gallery.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/New-Years-Day-March-1-January/i-Xw7sgq6

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/New-Years-Day-March-1-January/i-ZdzK2W6

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/New-Years-Day-March-1-January/i-hbFQ2tj

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/New-Years-Day-March-1-January/i-zPGkV6F

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/New-Years-Day-March-1-January/i-kRPnTbf

Last Minute Christmas

traditional-roast-turkey-dinner

It’s late December, where has the year gone? The seasonal music and decorations that have been up for months have inured you to Christmas, yet suddenly it’s here and you’ve got nothing prepared… bc’s here to help with it’s ‘instant’ traditional Roast Turkey Christmas meal – no cooking involved, although you will need to warm some dishes up to fully enjoy them.

Starter
Smoked salmon + Rainbow Salad
Smoked salmon: IKEA offers packs of frozen smoked salmon (Lax Kallrökt) $66 for 200g.
Rainbow Salad: black chickpeas, carrots, peas, corn, potatoes, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, parsley from Maya Takeaway, $88.

Main
Roast Turkey, roast potatoes, parsnips, red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce.
Roast Turkey: Great Food Hall in Pacifc Place have around 12 cooked US Roast Turkey per day $120/kg (4-6kg). Buy at the cooked food counter including Christmas Day. They also offer cooked roast beef, lamb and gammon if you prefer something other than turkey.
Roast potatoes: Great – $18/100g (cooked); M&S – $45/300g (need cooking)
Parsnips: M&S – $50/300g (need cooking)
Brussels sprouts: Great – $18/100g
Red cabbage braised with Bramley apples: $45/300g Marks & Spencer
Turkey gravy: $69/540g Marks & Spencer
Cranberry sauce: $59/300g Marks & Spencer
Stuffing: sage and onion/ cranberry & orange stuffing from M&S
Bacon wrapped sausages: sadly we couldn’t find this staple side dish in a cooked version.

For vegetarians: mediterranean vegetable stew / chickpea patty simmered in tomato sauce both $88 from Maya.

Dessert
Christmas Pudding with Brandy Butter
Christmas pudding: Great: several choices, M&S: $379/907g
Brandy Butter: $59/195g M&S or you can make it yourself it’s just butter beaten with sugar and brandy, or pick up a can of classic Bird’s custard and add a dash of brandy/ rum for a good alternative.

Cheese
Great’s cheese room is one of the unsung wonders of Hong Kong, the choice is varied, delicious and if you’re used to US and European cheese prices, expensive – but it’s Christmas so indulge.
A cheaper alternative is www.cheesebytom.com: cheddar 250g/$35, Brie 250g/$50 and other cheeses. Deliveries to Central and Lantau.

Christmas Cake + Mince Pies
Finding a good tasty Christmas cake is hard, especially one with marzipan and Royal icing
Christmas Cake: Great and M&S have several choices at different prices from $89 up – including the Hand Decorated Bauble Bar Cake (left) with marzipan and royal icing at $379. Most are more like fruit cakes than Christmas cake which is a shame as the two are subtly different in taste.
Mince Pies: Again Great and M&S have several choices, but none have a taste that leap out and say buy me!

Store Details + Contacts:
Great Basement Pacific Place, Admiralty Tel: 2918 9986 www.greatfoodhall.com
IKEA Causeway Bay, Shatin, Kowloon Bay www.ikea.com.hk
Marks & Spencer various stores www.marksandspencer.com
Maya Takeaway 173 Des Voeux Road, Central. Tel: 2111 4553 www.mayacafehk.com

Edit: 24 Dec – Added Christmas cake photo and updated text