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HK Cricket Match Reports – 19-20 September, 2015

Saturday, 19th September 2015

Four matches were played in the Saturday Championship withHong Kong Cricket Club Nomads and Kowloon Cricket Club Saracens making bold statements of intent in Division One with strong early performances while USRC/MCC and Kai Tak also enjoyed victories in Division Two.

Saturday Championship Division 1
At Hong Kong Cricket Club, defending champions HKCC Nomads got their title defence off to a winning start with a strong performance against Pakistan Association. Electing to bowl after winning the toss, Nomads dismissed PACC for 194 in the 34th over, with Ravi Mulchandani picking up 3/39 from his 7 over spell. For PACC, Zamir Ali top scored with 55 while Mehtab Ali scored 40.

A 50-run opening partnership saw Nomads away to a positive start with skipper Kym Graham hitting 30 and from there the HKCC batsmen were seldom troubled. A 97-run third wicket partnership between Kabir Sodhi (41) and A Shephard (84*) lifted Nomads to the brink and victory was eventually achieved in 30.1 overs.
At HKCC: Pakistan Association 194 from 33.2 overs lost HKCC Nomads 4/198 from 30.1 overs runs

At Kowloon Cricket Club, a new-look KCC Saracens unit achieved a bonus point victory over Centaurs thanks to a dominant batting performance. Saracens notched up an impressive 5/233 from their 35 overs after electing to bat first. Chris Cater (85) and Ninad Shah (78) shared a 138-run third wicket partnership while Simandeep Singh (61) and Carter added another 76 for the fourth wicket.

In reply, Centaurs made a good start with the openers putting on 57. Four of the top five batsmen scored over 20 but none reached 30 and Centaurs slumped from 3/103 to 135 all out. Ansh Lulla mopped up the tail with 4/29 from five overs.
At KCC: KCC Saracens 5/233 from 35 overs beat Centaurs 135 from 34.5 overs by 98 runs.

Saturday Championship Division 2
Kai Tak bounced back from their loss to SCC Lancers to beat CCC Hung See by 90 runs at Police Training College. Batting first after winning the toss, Kai Tak scored 6/189 from their 35 overs with Ali Williams top scoring with 93. In reply, CCC Hung See were dismissed for 99 with Kai Tak skipper Mohsin Naqvi claiming 3/6 off seven overs.
At PTC: Kai Tak 6/189 from 35 overs beat CCC Hung See 99 from 34.3 overs by 90 runs.

At PKVR Park, USRC/MCC and HKU fought out a close game with USRC/MCC prevailing by 29 runs. USRC/MCC batted first and they scored 213 off 34.3 overs with Umar Mohammad hitting an impressive 72 while Sikandar Zafar scored 45. Ashwin Dokania led HKU’s reply with 41, but his was a lone hand as six other HKU batsmen posted double figure scores but none could go past 17. HKU were eventually dismissed for 184.
At PKVR Park: USRC/MCC 213 from 34.3 overs beat HKU 184 from 33.5 overs by 29 runs.

Sunday, 20th September 2015

One-Day Premier League
A thrilling One-Day Premier League match was played at Hong Kong Cricket Club with defending champions HKCC prevailing in the end by the narrowest of margins.

The Independents batted first after winning the toss but they got off to the worst possible start, losing three wickets with just one run on the board. A 108-run fourth wicket partnership between Jonathan Foo and Akbar Khan lifted the Independents’ score to 109 before Khan was dismissed for 23. The 25-year-old Foo, who represented Guyana in the 2010 and 2013 Caribbean T20 competitions, went on to score a brilliant 109 with the score on 180. Foo received useful support from Awais Mohammad who finished unbeaten on 38 as Independents reached 8/217 from their 50 overs. Tim Cutler and Daljeet Singh picked up two wickets each for HKCC.

In reply, HKCC also lost an early wicket and they were reduced to 4/61 before a 50-run partnership between Nizakat Khan and Matt Twomey lifted them over the 100 mark. A flurry of wickets then saw the hosts slip to 7/113 but Nizakat Khan engineered a rear-guard battle with the tail-enders to get HKCC back into the match. Nizakat was eventually dismissed for 106 but his wicket soon saw the last wicket pair at the crease with still 16 runs needed. In a tense finish, Giacomo Lamplough (17*) and Anton Bunton (9*) secured the final few runs needed for a one-wicket victory. Jonathan Foo and Mudassar Hussain were the best of the Independents’ bowlers, with two wickets apiece.
At HKCC: Independents 8/217 from 50 overs lost to HKCC 9/221 from 42.1 overs by 1 wicket.

Red Dragons Finish Runners Up at East Asia Cup

Hong Kong’s Women’s T20 team the Red Dragons lead by Captain Emma Lai ( 賴穎琪) lost a hard fought final against China by 38 runs at the East Asia Cup held in Korea from the 15-20 September.

The four team tournament, held at the Yeonhui Cricket Stadium in Incheon featured Hong Kong, Japan, China and hosts Korea. The first thee match days featured the round robin games with the final on the last day.

Hong Kong Red Dragon’s Results

Match Day 1
China 104/4 from 20 overs beat Hong Kong 41/9 from 19.4 overs. China beat Hong Kong by 63 runs.

China 104/4 (20 overs)
H Zhou 42*, S Fengfeng 32, Markio Hill 3/14

Hong Kong 41/9 (19.4 overs)
Ruchitha Venkatesh 11, Lai Wing Ki 9, W Meng 3/3, R Xiang 2/4, L Yingying 2/4, S Fengfeng 1/4
China won the toss and decided to bat first.

Match Day 2
Hong Kong 100/9 from 20 overs beat Japan 74/7 from 20 overs. Hong Kong won by 26 runs.

Hong Kong 100/9 (20 overs)
Kary Chan 25, Shanzeen Shanzad 21, Mariko Hill 13, Y Kitamato 2/3, A Nakayama 2/9, K Takashashi 1/5

Japan 74/7 (20 overs)
K Ota 24, E Yamaguchi 14, Pull To 3/15, Mariko Hill 2/13, Annie Ho 1/8
Hong Kong won the toss and decided to bat first.

Match Day 3
Hong Kong 59/0 from 20 overs beat Korea 58/8 from 20 overs. Hong Kong won by 10 wickets.

Korea 58/8 (20 overs)
P On 15, Annie Ho 3/14, Pull To 2/13, Markio Hill 1/7, Kary Chan 1/8, Marina Lamplough 1/11

Hong Kong 59/0 (20 overs)
(Kary Chan 26*, Pull To 15*)At Yeonhui Cricket Stadium, Incheon, Korea won the toss and decided to bat first.

East Asia Cup Final
China 123/2 from 20 overs beat Hong Kong 85/4 from 20 overs. China beat Hong Kong by 38 runs.

China 123/2 (20 overs)
S Mengyo 61, H Zhuo 27*, Pull To 1/20, Annie Ho 1/31

Hong Kong 85/4 (20 overs)
Pull To 45*, Mariko Hill 24, W Juan 1/17
China won the toss and invited Hong Kong to field first

Hong Kong Squad
LAI Wing Ki, Emma 賴穎琪 (Captain), TO Yee Shan, Pull 杜綺珊 (Vice Captain), CHAN Ka Ying, Kary 陳嘉瑩, CHEUNG Hiu Ying, Lemon 張曉瑩#, HO Hung Ying, Annie 何虹瑩, KWOK Lau Ping, Amanda 郭柳萍, LEE Sheung Yu, Patricia 李湘瑜#, WONG Ki Yan, Corn 黃麒恩#, Jenefer DAVIES 戴麗珠, Shanzeen SHAHZAD 李芷心, Mariko HILL, Marina LAMPLOUGH, Ruchitha VENKATESH#
# Players making their Hong Kong debuts in this tournament.

HK Cricket Premier League: 13 September Match Reports

Babar Hayat in action against Hong Kong Cricket Club in the Hong Kong Premier League One-Day Tournament — Babar Hayat on his way to a century against Hong Kong Cricket Club in the Hong Kong Premier League One-Day Tournament

Little Sai Wan beat Hong Kong Cricket Club by 123 runs
Little Sai Wan (LSWCC) got their 2015-16 One-Day Premier League campaign off to a flying start with a 123-run victory over defending champions Hong Kong Cricket Club at HKCC on Sunday thanks to some power hitting from their middle-order batsmen.

Batting first after winning the toss, the HKCC team made most of the early running with wickets to Simon Cook, Tim Cutler and Harry Bailey restricting LSWCC to 3/58 from their first 20 overs. But from there, it was all LSWCC. Babar Hayat and Ehsan Khan made the most of some early let-offs to build a partnership that was steady at the start but which flourished towards the end. Together they combined for 162 runs, scored in 23.1 overs at a touch under 7 runs per over. HKCC’s slow bowlers had no answer to the onslaught, with Ahan Manglik, Courtney Kruger and Scott McKechnie conceding 104 runs from their collective 10 overs. Hayat fell a couple of balls after reaching his run-a-ball 100, which featured three fours and eight sixes, while Ehsan Khan hit 83 with eleven fours and one six.

If the Hayat/Khan partnership had been impressive, the partnership between Munir Dar and Shahid Wasif was explosive. From 5/237 at the fall of Ehsan’s wicket, Dar and Wasif plundered another 90 runs off the next 33 balls, at a staggering 16.36 runs per over. Dar struck three fours and six sixes in his 21-ball 54 while Wasif bettered that with two fours and six sixes in his 16-ball 49 not out as DLSWCC finished on 6/332 from their 50 overs. None of the HKCC bowlers were spared – Wasif smashed Simon Cook back over his head for two huge sixes while Tim Cutler, whose first six overs had cost just 10 runs, conceded 63 runs from his last four.

Needing a swift and solid start to their innings, the HKCC openers of David Jacquier and James Redmayne were pegged down by a tight opening spell from Jangzeb Khan and Niaz Khan. Jangzeb bowled Jacquier (5) and had Scott McKechnie (13) caught behind while the run-out of Redmayne (10) left HKCC struggling at 3/36 in the 11^th over. A fine fourth wicket partnership worth 84 runs between HKCC skipper Courtney Kruger and Nizakat Khan lifted HKCC into a good position and at 3/119 after 22 overs, they were 58 runs ahead of DLSWCC at the same point of their innings. But the dismissals of Kruger (42) and Matt Twomey (1) in quick succession, set HKCC back on their haunches. Simon Cook (31) and Nizakat (46) did their best to up the run-rate but when they both fell in successive overs from Ehsan Khan, the HKCC chase was all but over. Daljeet Singh batted well for 31 and his was the final wicket to fall as HKCC slumped to 209 all out in 40.1 overs.

Ehsan Khan completed a fine all-round performance by claiming 5/37 from his eight over spell, while Jangzeb Khan picked up 2/25 from six overs at the top of the innings.

At HKCC: DLSWCC 6/332 from 50 overs beat HKCC 209 from 40.1 overs by 123 runs Scorecard

Kowloon Cricket Club beatHong Kong Under 19s by 140 runs
In the day’s other match,Kowloon Cricket Club plundered the U19s attack for 326 runs with Jamie Atkinson hitting 93 and Kincit Shah and Ryan Campbell completing half-centuries. Tanveer Ahmed was the best of the U19s bowlers, picking up 3/54 from his ten over spell.

In reply, the U19s started solidly with the openers putting on 50 runs for the first wicket. But wickets tumbled regularly and from 8/95 there was no coming back. Left-arm spinner Dan Pascoe did the damage for KCC, picking up 5/30 from his ten over spell. A last wicket partnership between Tanveer Ahmed and Saad Mohammad was the best for the U19s as the finished on 186 from 48.5 overs.

At KCC: KCC 7/326 from 50 overs beat HKCA U19s 186 from 48.5 overs by 140 runs. Scorecard

Source: HK Cricket Association

HK Domestic Cricket Round-up: 12-13 September 2015

HK Domestic Cricket Round-up: 12-13 September 2015

Saturday, 12th September 2015
Three matches were played in the second week of the season with Hong Kong Cricket Club Witherers beating Kowloon Cricket Club Crusaders in a thriller while KCC Tartars and CCC Jing Sun played out a tie. In Division Two, SCC Lancers had a seven wicket win over Kai Tak at PKVR Park.

Saturday Championship Division 1
At Hong Kong Cricket Club, hosts HKCC Witherers batted first and posted 9/184 from their 35 overs with Charlie Bright hitting 40 at the top of the order and Andrew Jacobs finishing unbeaten on 41. In reply, KCC Crusaders look good early but four wickets to Anton Buntin and three to Tobias Raper knocked them over for 179.
At HKCC: HKCC Witherers 9/184 from 35 overs beat KCC Crusaders 179 from 33.1 overs by 5 runs

Over at Kowloon Cricket Club, KCC Tartars and CCC Jing Sun played out a thrilling tie. Tartars batted first after winning the toss and they scored 170 from 34.5 overs. Tartar’s top scorer was Ankur Sharma with 32 while Reid Mawdsley picked up 3/31 for CCC. In reply, CCC Jing Sun got to 4/134 but lost their last six wickets for 36 runs as the match finished in a tie. Chris Harris top scored for CCC Jing Sun while Ateeq ul-Rehman claimed 4/26 and Ghulam Mustafa picked 3/40 for Tartars.
At KCC: KCC Tartars 170 from 34.5 overs tied with CCC Jing Sun 170 from 33.1 overs.

Saturday Championship Division 2
At Po Kong Village Road Reservoir Ground (PKVR), SCC Lancers dismissed Kai Tak for just 97 and cruised to victory in less than 20 overs. Kai Tak batted first after wining the toss bu they were pegged back early with the loss of both openers with only 12 runs on the board. Saurav Biswas helped lead a mini revival for Kai Tak but his 24 was their best on the day as the last 6 wickets could only muster 22 runs. The wickets were shared around by the Lancers’ bowlers with Nitesh Talwar, Rahul Tonapi and Tauseef Bukhari all claiming three each. An unbeaten 55 from Soma Nair was more than enough to see SCC Lancers to victory in 19.3 overs.
At PKVR Park: Kai Tak 97 from 24.1 overs lost to SCC Lancers 3/98 from 19.3 overs by 7 wickets.

Sunday, 13th September 2015

Women’s Twenty20 Cup
In the second week of the Women’s T20 Cup, HKCC Willow Wielders, DLSW Wasps and CCC Fung Wong were victorious.

In the early game, CCC Fung Wong scored a nine wicket victory after dismissing PACC for 22 in just 8.5 overs. The CCC women only needed 4.4 overs to knock off the required runs.
At PKVR Reservoir: PACC 22 from 8.5 overs lost to CCC Fung Wong 1/25 from 4.4 overs by 9 wickets.

There was an even more lop-sided game in the second match of the day with HKCC Willow Wielders thumping USRC by ten wickets. None of the USRC batters could register a run as USRC was dismissed for 23 in ten overs with Subhadra Bandyopadhyay picking up 7-2 from three overs. HKCC Willow Wielders had no trouble knocking off the wining runs in 4 overs.
At PKVR Reservoir: USRC 23 from 10 overs lost to HKCC Willow Wielders 0/24 from 4 overs by 10 wickets.

The final game of the day did see some decent action as DLSW Wasps beat KCC Maidens by 64 runs. Shanzeen Shahzad hit 65 and Yousaf Mehreen scored 61 as the Wasps scored an impressive 3/161 from their 20 overs. In reply, KCC Maidens could only manage 7/97 from their 20 overs with Shanzeen and Kinza Zahid picking up two wickets each.
At PKVR Reservoir: DLSW Wasps 3/161 from 20 overs beat KCC Maidens 7/97 from 20 overs by 64 runs.

One-Day Premier League
The One Day Premier League competition kicked off with defending champions HKCC taking on DLSWCC Prism at Hong Kong Cricket Club and KCC facing the HKCA U19s at Kowloon Cricket Club. Both matches were scored live on Cricinfo for the first time.

At Hong Kong Cricket Club, Little Sai Wan Prism stunned the hosts by 123 runs thanks to a brilliant batting effort that saw them post 6/332 from their 50 overs. Babar Hayat scored the first century of the season with a run-a-ball 100 while Ehsan Khan hit 83 runs. The pair shared a 163 run partnership before Munir Dar (54) and Shahid Wasif (49*) smashed 90 runs off 33 balls to lift DLSW to their big total.

HKCC made a good fist of their reply, being well ahead of the DLSW score in the early stages of their innings. But the regular loss of wickets blighted their chase and they eventually fell 123 runs short. Nizakat Khan’s 46 was the best for HKCC, sharing an 84-run partnership with Courtney Kruger who scored 42, while Simon Cook and Dlajeet Singh both struck 31. Ehsan Khan did the damage with the ball for DLSW, claiming 5/37 from his 8 over spell.
At HKCC: DLSW Prism 6/332 from 50 overs beat HKCC 209 from 40.1 overs by 123 runs

In the day’s other match, Kowloon Cricket Club defeated the HKCA Under-19s by 140 runs at Kowloon Cricket Club. KCC plundered the U19s attack for 326 runs off their 50 overs with Jamie Atkinson hitting 93 and Kincit Shah and Ryan Campbell completing half-centuries. Tanveer Ahmed was the best of the U19s bowlers, picking up 3/54 from his ten over spell.

In reply, the U19s started solidly with the openers putting on 50 runs for the first wicket. But wickets tumbled regularly and from 8/95 there was no coming back. Left-arm spinner Dan Pascoe did the damage for KCC, picking up 5/30 from his ten over spell. A last wicket partnership between Tanveer Ahmed and Saad Mohammad worth 72 runs was the best for the U19s as the finished on 186 from 48.5 overs.
At KCC: KCC 7/326 from 50 overs beat HKCA U19s 186 from 48.5 overs by 140 runs.

Source: HK Cricket Association

Emma Lai Captains Women’s T20

All-rounder Emma Lai has been named as Captain and will lead the Hong Kong women’s cricket team at the inaugural East Asia T20 to be staged in Incheon in mid-September. As well as Hong Kong, the tournament features sides from Japan, China and hosts Korea.

Hong Kong Women’s Squad:
LAI Wing Ki, Emma (Captain)
TO Yee Shan, Pull (Vice Captain)
CHAN Ka Ying, Kary
CHEUNG Hiu Ying, Lemon
HO Hung Ying, Annie
HO Sin Yee, Cindy
KWOK Lau Ping, Amanda
LEE Sheung Yu, Patricia
WONG Ki Yan, Corn
Jenefer DAVIES
Mariko HILL
Ruchitha VENKATES
Shanzeen SHAHZAD

Reserves
Aneekah STYLES
CHAN Sau Ha, Charlotte
Leslie DELAPENA
Marina LAMPLOUGH

Officials
Najeeb Amar – Coach
Chris Pickett – Assistant Coach

Hong Kong Qualify for WorldT20

Hong Kong beat Afghanistan off the last ball of the match to qualify for the World T20 in India in 2016.

Hong Kong’s chase of Afghanistan’s 161 for 7 sprang to life with the arrival of Mark Chapman, who demonstrated the urgency that was sorely needed earlier with 40 off 25 balls. The 21-year-old vice-captain frequently shuffled around the crease for paddles and scoops to throw the Afghanistan bowlers off their lengths.

Hong Kong scored 12 runs in the 16th, 17th and 18th overs, with Chapman doing the majority of the damage including a crisp six over long-off in that stretch. He ramped another four past fine leg in the 19th and a single off the last ball of that over kept him on strike with Hong Kong needing 16 off the final over.

Mark Chapman attempted to clear midwicket from the first ball of Mohammad Nabi’s over, but was brilliantly caught on the boundary. If it seemed as if Hong Kong’s chances of victory had gone, Babar Hayat thought otherwise. He swatted the next delivery through fine leg for four, and then launched the third ball of the over, another full toss, over midwicket for six. That took the equation down to six runs from three balls, and Nabi then bowled a wide to knock another run off the target. Babar then scampered a three to the long boundary at midwicket, before Tanwir Afzal was run out attempting a single. That left two required from the final ball of the match, which Hayat slapped through midwicket to secure qualification.

Afghanistan’s total of 161-7 had appeared to set up the encounter seemed perfectly and so it proved, as an enthralling run chase played out. Hong Kong’s intent was clear from Irfan Ahmed’s two emphatic straight sixes in the opening four overs. After he was dismissed for 16, Jamie Atkinson and Niakhat Khan added 51 for the second wicket, though Hong Kong slipped below the required rate. Niazkhat was well caught at third man. Soon after Atkinson, who played responsibly for 47 and nonchalantly swatted a couple of sixes over long on, was caught at long off.

That left Hong Kong needing 64 from 5.1 overs – an onerous task against Afghanistan’s bowling attack. But Mark Chapman played an innings that showcased his timing, improvisation, power and purpose running between the wickets to set up the thrilling denouement.

The day began with Afghanistan winning the toss and choosing to bat: a surprising decision given the 10am start at Malahide on a slightly overcast day. Mohammad Shazhad, Afghanistan’s chunky opener, did not seem perturbed by the conditions as he powered Tanwir Afzal for two straight boundaries in the opening over of the match. But off the first over in the fourth over he attempted to flat-bat Haseeb Amjad down the ground, and could only get a leading edge to third man, where Aizaz Khan snaffled a sharp chance. Five immaculate deliveries to Asghar Stanikzai followed as Haseeb recorded a wicket maiden: a rare achievement in Twenty20cricket, especially in the Powerplay.

With Nadeem Ahmed continuing the form he displayed in taking 5-12 against Namibia, Hong Kong established a measure of control. After eight overs Afghanistan had scored only 50 runs, but, with only one wicket down, they had developed a platform from which to accelerate. Irfan was hit for two sixes in his first over as Stanikzai and Nawroz Mangal bristled with intent.

Aizaz Khan was hit for boundaries from his opening two deliveries, but his response highlighted his character. Varying his length and delivering well-directed yorkers, he conceded only two runs from his next seven balls that included removing Stanikzai for 29 with a delivery that was full and jagged back late, and left Afghanistan 85-2 off 11.1 overs.

With Mangal making a cultured 53, Afghanistan continued to accelerate. But Afghanistan’s assault was less spectacular than they would have envisaged, with Haseeb once again outstanding in the death overs.

Hong Kong never wilted in the field, with Chapman taking two smart catches at long on to prevent Afghanistan reaching 170. But Hong Kong’s best moment of the innings came when Najibullah Zadran heaved Irfan to midwicket and Kinchit Shah proceeded to take a spectacular diving catch.

Hong Kong beat Namibia by 83 Runs

Man of the Match Irfan Ahmed blazed to a 55-ball 98 after which left-arm spinner Nadeem Ahmed took a career-best 5 for 12 to lead Hong Kong past Namibia by 83 runs. The victory ensured Hong Kong’s qualification for the playoff stages and they remain in the hunt for a World T20 spot. Namibia, despite the loss, will join them.

Hong Kong, having been inserted, got off to a rapid start – 56 in five overs – before Gerrie Snyman dismissed Jamie Atkinson in the sixth over. Two 30-plus partnerships took the total past 120. Irfan then added 54 runs off 26 balls with Babar Hayat for the third wicket, but both batsmen fell in the space of two balls. Hong Kong were 178 for 5 in the 18th over, but could only add 19 runs in the remaining 15 deliveries to finish on 197 for 8.

Irfan had four sixes and nine fours to make his career best score, but fell fell two runs short of what would have been the first century of this year’s World T20 Qualifier.

Namibia openers Snyman and Stephan Baard began the chase strongly. They took the score to 23 for 0 in the second over but fell in successive balls to seamer Haseeb Amjad. Then captain Tanvir Afzal got rid of Raymond van Schoor in the fifth over but Namibia kept up with the asking rate and were 101 for 4 in the 11th over. But they lost the remaining six wickets for only 13 runs.

Nadeem was at the centre of that collapse, strike twice in 12th and doing it again in the 14th over to run through the tail and bring the match to a very quick and abrupt finish.

The win saw Hong Kong finish second in Group A and they will play Afghanistan on 21 July – the winner of that game will qualify for the WorldT20 in India in 2016 and move into the semi-finals of the tournament. The loser gets another chance against the fourth place team.

Additional reporting: Cricinfo

Hong Kong lose to USA by 7 Wickets

After the euphoria of toppling Ireland the previous day, Hong Kong proved unable to maintain their momentum against the United States. A clinical partnership from the American pair of Alex Amsterdam and Nicholas Standford helped the US chase down the 126 they needed to complete a second victory of the tournament.

Hong Kong, who had bowled so superbly to defend 129 against Ireland, proved unable to replicate that effort on a more benign batting track at Clontarf. When Irfan Ahmed produced a devilish in-swinger to snare Fahad Babar lbw and reduce the US to 62-3 in the 11th over, Hong Kong had hopes of a third consecutive victory in the World T20 Qualifiers. But Amsterdam, who survived a tough chance off Tanwir Afzal at long off on none, and Standford batted with increasing confidence as Hong Kong reached their target.

Defeat makes Hong Kong’s final group game, against Namibia at 215 pm Irish time on Sunday, crucial. If Hong Kong win they should finish in either second or third, meaning they will only have to win one of two play-off matches to guarantee their passage to India next year. But should they lose Hong Kong would need the US and Jersey to lose their matches, to Papua New Guinea and Ireland respectively, to finish fourth. In this scenario Hong Kong would still qualify for the play-offs, but would be left needing to win two consecutive games to qualify for the 2016 World T20.

Hong Kong Director of Cricket and Head Coach Charlie Burke said, “We’ve got to grow up and get better tomorrow – learn from today and do things a lot better. I’m sure we will because the guys don’t often have two bad games in a row.”

“The destiny is still in our own hands which is crucial. We win tomorrow and we’ll get in the top four. We’ll probably stay fourth because of the net run-rate but that’s the important thing. We don’t want to get to the stage where it’s out of our hands. That’s the last thing we want – we’re a better team than that.”

Much of Hong Kong’s bowling performance was admirable, especially typically skilful opening spells from Tanwir Afzal and Haseeb Amjad. The fielding held up impressively too, with Aizaz Khan effecting a run-out and two batsmen surviving close direct hits. But ultimately Hong Kong were defending too few runs on an agreeable summer’s day at the picturesque, almost boutique, club ground in Clontarf.

Inserted to bat for the second consecutive day, Hong Kong faltered early on against precise new ball bowling from the United States. Anshuman Rath was lbw in the third over, and when Nizakat Khan edged Adil Bhatti behind at the start of the seventh over, Hong Kong were uncertainly placed on 27-2.

Irfan Ahmed began more cautiously than is his norm, but unfurled an exquisite cut through point for four as he became more assertive. Having reached 26, Irfan was run out at the end of the tenth over, attempting a single when none existed.

Having made a disappointing 54 from their opening ten overs, Hong Kong accelerated in the second half of their innings, albeit less spectacularly than they would have hoped. Mark Chapman and Babar Hayat added 33 in 4.3 overs for the first wicket, Chapman’s skilful accumulation complementing Hayat’s powerful hitting, until Chapman fell to a brilliant catch behind attempting to glide the ball down to third man.

When Hayat, who heaved Timil Patel’s legspin over long on for a huge six, fell clean bowled against Japen Patel, the onus was on Jamie Atkinson to get Hong Kong up to a score approaching the 129-8 they successfully defended against Ireland the day before.

It was a challenge the former skipper embraced. Mixing powerful hitting, including a clean straight six over long off, with aggressive running between the wickets, Atkinson reached 34, off only 23 balls, until being run-out from the final ball of the innings.

While this was a disappointing day for Hong Kong, there was still something to celebrate. Aged 17 years and 249 days, Giacomo Lamplough made his debut for Hong Kong. For one of the youngest sides in the tournament, promising days still lie ahead.

Additional reporting: HK Cricket Association