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Afghanistan Dominate Day 1 in Mong Kok

Afghanistan dominated the first days play of the four day ICC Intercontinental Cup match at Tin Kwong Road dismissing Hong Kong for 142 and ending the day 128 runs ahead with 8 wickets in hand.

Hong Kong captain Babar Hayat won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket that looked easy paced and good for batting. Kyle Christie and Haroon Arshad made their debut in the competition and received their cap from Head Coach Simon Cook before the start of play.

Stiller and Carter opened the batting for Hong Kong with Stiller the first to go caught behind by Zazai off Dawlat Zadran for 6 leaving the hosts 21-1. Carter and Hayat set out to rebuild the innings and Carter looked solid whilst playing some elegant strokes through the offside. Rashid Khan entered the attack and made the second breakthrough with Carter being trapped lbw for 21 (41-2).

Hayat and Nizakat Khan put together a 43 run partnership with Hayat showing his intent by launching 2 huge sixes off Rashid that landed in the nearby housing estate and police station. Rashid wasn’t to be outdone and came back well to remove Hayat lbw for 39 (84-3). The Hong Kong middle order then succumbed to some excellent spin bowling from Rashid and Nabi. 84-3 soon became 97-7 and Hong Kong had lost all of their earlier momentum. Waqas Khan and Waqas Barkat fought hard to try and bring some respectability to the score with both players making 23. Kyle Christie was last man out for 2 as Hong Kong crumbled to a dismal 142 all out in just 47 overs. Rashid Khan (5-65) and Dawlat Zadran (3-15) were the standout bowlers for Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s opening pair of Ahmadi and Ihsanullah strode out to the middle and from the offset and made their intent known with some excellent strokes through the offside. Hayat tried different bowling combinations but all to no avail as the 50 and 100 partnership were bought up with boundaries flowing down the ground and through the offside field. Ihsanullah and Ahmadi both bought up their half centuries before Ihsanullah was caught by the captain Hayat off the bowling of Rath for a well-made 63 (124-1). The hard hitting Shah arrived at the crease and set his stall out by striking two 6s in his first 5 balls. Afghanistan passed Hong Kong’s first innings of 142 with 9 wickets in hand and were well set going into the final hour of play on Day 1.

Javed Ahmadi went on to make an excellent century and was unfortunate to become the second wicket of the innings when Kyle Christie managed to get a finger end on one off his own bowling which left Ahmadi short of his ground at the non-strikers crease for a well-made 108 off 113 balls (203-2). Afghanistan captain Ashgar Stanikzai ended day 1 with a flourish and made his way to an aggressive 38 ball half century. Hong Kong will be frustrated with 2-3 dropped catches late in the day, a day which went perfectly for the visitors as they closed on 270-2 with Stanikzai 58 and Shah 34 the not out batsmen.

Hong Kong v Afghanistan – 4 Day Game
Date: 20-23 October, 2017
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground
Tickets: Free

Additional reporting/images: HK Cricket

Hong Kong Sixes Match Schedule

Hong Kong will take on South Africa in the opening match of the Hong Kong World Sixes as the playing pools and schedule were announced for the tournament which takes place on 28-29 October, 2017.

South Africa, who won the event when it was last held in 2012, the Marylebone Cricket Club and five-time champions Pakistan join Hong Kong in Group A.

Group B kicks off with Sri Lanka up against Bangladesh, with New Zealand Kiwis and Australia the other two teams who will vie for top seeding on finals day.

The fastest paced cricket tournament in the world will see all 12 group matches played on Saturday, with all finals of both the Cup and Plate championships played out on Sunday.

Sunday’s fixture list also includes an exhibition match to kick off day two, with the Hong Kong Women’s Team facing off against the Hong Kong Dragons

“Seeding teams for this event has been particularly difficult with many unknown factors. As expected most teams are stacked with young talented guys sent to hone their skills. The MCC and NZ Kiwis add a balance to that equation so the draw has allowed for five-time champions Pakistan to play MCC and for Australia to play New Zealand Kiwis as the last 2 matches in an intriguing finale to the packed 12 match schedule on the first day,” said Tournament Director Glyn Davies.

“Anything can happen in Sixes cricket and Sri Lanka, a traditional crowd favourite, along with Hong Kong have always had an influence in every event to date so anyone can win.”

Play commences at 8am each day with the final on Sunday scheduled to start at 4.15pm local time and will be an eight over a side match. All other games outside the Plate final (6 overs) will be five overs each team.

HK Sixes 2017: Pools and Draw

October 28 Group Stage
Time	Game	Pool
0800-0845	HKG v RSA	A
0845-0930	BAN v SRL	B
0930-1015	PAK v HKG	A
1015-1100	AUS v SRL	B
1100-1145	MCC v RSA	A
1145-1230	NZK v BAN	B
1230-1315	HKG v MCC	A
1315-1400	NZK v SRL	B
1400-1445	RSA v PAK	A
1445-1530	BAN v AUS	B
1530-1615	MCC v PAK	A
1615- 1700	NZK v AUS	B

October 29 Finals day
0800-0845	HKW v Dragons
0845-0930	1 v 8
0930-1015	2 v 7
1015-1100	3 v 6
1100-1145	4 v 5
1145-1230	Cup Semi 1
1230-1315	Plate Semi 1
1315-1400	Cup Semi 2
1400-1445	Plate Semi 2
1445-1530	3rd Place playoff
1530-1615	Plate final	6 overs
1615- 1700	Cup Final	8 overs

Hong Kong Beat Nepal by 83 Runs in First ODI

Hong Kong bowlers Aizaz Khan and Ehsan Khan ran through Nepal’s batting order to thrash them by 83 runs in the first ODI as part of the World Cricket League Championships in Mong Kok. The duo shared eight wickets between them as offspinner Ehsan finished with his List A career-best figures of 5 for 17.

Hong Kong, put in to bat first, lost their opener Anshuman Rath for a duck in the fourth over. At the other end Jamie Atkinson was more successful, carrying his team past 100 even despite regular blows. His lone hand was not enough to carry them past 200 though; Hong Kong slipped from 3 for 108 to 194 all out, with Atkinson top-scoring with his 76.

In their chase, Nepal lost wickets regularly as medium-pacer Aizaz dismissed three of the top-four batsmen, while Ehsan worked through the rest, dismantling Nepal for 111.

Additional reporting: cricinfo

HK Women’s Squad for India Tour and T20 World Cup Qualifier

Following on from the recent success in the East Asia Cup the HK Cricket selection panel has selected a 14 player squad for the upcoming Pre Tour to India and ICC World T20 Asia Region Qualifiers.

The team will spend 6 days in India then fly directly to Bangkok for their T20 Asia Region Qualifiers.

“This was a tough selection process for the Panel with some talented players missing out, but we’re confident we have selected a balanced side that has the potential to go on and win the tournament.”

“The goals that we had set was to win the East Asia Cup and our regional WT20 Qualifiers. The belief is there within the squad that we can go on and complete what we have set out to do.”

The team again will be under the Leadership of Mariko Hill. Which shows one change from the East Asia Squad. Keenu Gill is unavailable because of work commitments, and sees Marina Lamplough return to the squad.

“Marina has got an excellent chance to again stake her claim to be back in the starting 11. She knows that over the next 4 weeks she will need to put in the hard yards.”

Lemon Cheung has been added to the Pre Tour to India to let her gain vital experience for futures tours.

Tour to India: 12-18 November, 2017

Mariko Hill, Captain, (HKCC), Kary Chan, Vice Captain, (CCC), Yasmin Daswani, (HKCC), Pull To, (CCC), Shanzeen Shahzad, (DSLW), Jenefer Davies (KCC), Natural Yip (HKCC), Annie Ho (HKCC), Bella Poon (KCC), Chan Sau Ha (HKCC), Marina Lamplough (HKCC), Emma Lai (HKCC), Ruchi Venketesh (HKCC), Lemon Cheung (HKCC)

World T20 Asia Region Qualifiers: 18-28 November, 2017

Teams Confirmed For Hong Kong World Sixes

The list of nations competing in the Hong Kong World Sixes has been finalised with Pakistan and New Zealand Kiwis announced as the teams joining hosts Hong Kong, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at the KCC on 28-29 October.

Pakistan are three-time winners of the competition, while the New Zealand Kiwis will be a select team captained by Peter Fulton and include a number of recently retired stars from the Black Caps.

“We’re really pleased to have teams competing from seven full [test] members,” CHK Director Jonathan Cummings said. “Delighted to have Pakistan returning to the tournament – they’ve always been traditionally very strong at the Sixes format and provide great entertainment.”

“The New Zealand Kiwis have got some great names coming which will soon be announced and they’ll be a force as well. The quality of the cricket is going to fantastic and it’s all shaping as a great event.”

HK Cricket Sixes
Date: 28-29 October, 2017
Venue: Kowloon Cricket Club
Tickets: $2,400, $1,300, $1,000, $700, $600, $350 from Ticketflap

Hong Kong Win East Asia T20 Cup

Amidst the showers Hong Kong beat Japan in the final to win the East Asia T20 Cup by 5 wickets on Sunday at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.

Japan Captain Mai Yanagida won the toss and elected to bat first. For Hong it was their first time fielding first having won their pool matches batting first. Mariko Hill took the new ball and bowled with good pace with Japan and Kanno in particular looking to take advantage of anything short and wide.

Chan Ka Man made the opening breakthrough with Kanno well caught at mid-off by Ho for 8. Back to back maidens during overs 5 and 6 by Ho and Chan Ma Kan left Japan under pressure at 14-1 after 6 overs. Shirashi set out to kick start the innings with a flowing drive through cover for 4.

Shirashi was then comprehensively bowled by K Chan for 8 and Hong Kong were very much in the ascendency. The Japanese captain Yanagida was still at the crease but was struggling to break the shackles of some disciplined bowling and excellent fielding inside the circle. 17 runs off the 12^th over kick started the Japanese innings with some lusty blows being struck by Endo. The Japanese counter-attack continued in the next over with 9 coming off the bowling of Chan Sau Har including some excellent straight drives through and over mid on/off.

Chan Ka Man was bought back into the attack and struck instantly bowling the dangerous Endo for a well-made 16. Chan ended up with figures of 2-3 off her 4 over spell including 3 maidens. Yanagida continued to Japan innings together and played some exquisite drives both through and over cover. 74-3 off 17 overs, the Japanese were trying everything to get close to 100 If not beyond. Yanagida finished unbeaten on 35 off 55 balls and Japan’s inning s closed on 90-4.

Hong Kong set off chasing 91 with in form openers Daswani and Gill striding out to the middle. The impressive left arm spinner of Miyaji started off with a maiden and the intensity of the Japanese fielding unit within the inner circle was evident from the first ball. Daswani with her favored square cut and back foot drive tried to get the innings flowing while Japan looked to continue to build pressure. Gill eventually got off the mark with 2 cultured strokes through the leg side. 32-0 after the initial 6 over power play, 58 needed off 84 balls with the full complement of wickets in hand.

Rain bought the players off the field at the start of the 9^th over with Hong Kong well placed on 44-0. No overs were lost and the players returned to the middle with play resuming with a free hit that Daswani duly obliged by slashing once again through backward point. The 50 partnership came up in the 9th over and with that the heavens opened once again. Play resumed for a 3rd time with a revised target of 83 off 18 Overs. Miyaji returned and made the breakthrough bowling Gill (53-1). Ishimoto claimed the wicket of K Chan caught by Wicket Keeper Yamaguchi for 2.

A late flurry of wickets including Daswani, Hill and Shahzad added some late drama but Hong Kong went on to win by 5 wickets and are the 2017 East Asia T20 Champions.

Hong Kong are deserving winners of what has been an excellent tournament. All 4 teams at various stages of the week have shown high levels of skill, passion and commitment. The future of Women’s cricket within the region is in good health.

Hong Kong (85/5) beat Japan (90/4) by 5 wickets (Duckworth/Lewis method)

Player of the Tournament: Yasmin Daswani (Hong Kong)

Batter of the Tournament: Yasmin Daswani (Hong Kong)
Bowler of the Tournament: Etsuko Kobayashi (Japan)

Additional reporting and images: HK Cricket

Daswani Scores 77 as Hong Kong Rout Korea

Hong Kong fresh from their opening day win against China took on a Korean team looking for their first win of the competition. Captain Mariko Hill won the toss and elected to bat first in humid conditions on what looked an excellent pitch at Kowloon Cricket Club.

Yasmin Daswani, who top scored in Hong Kong’s impressive opening win, is in a rich vein of form and quickly set out to pressure the Korean attack with a number of back foot cuts and pulls. Hong Kong progressed smoothly to 35 for no loss after 6 overs.

Korea made the initial breakthrough with Gill finding herself short of her the crease after being sent back by Daswani and then struck quickly again with Chan being caught off the bowling of Park. Captain Hill strode to the crease at 45-2 with plenty of overs left to bat. Daswani continued to punish any error in length particularly through the leg side. At the halfway stage Hong Kong were nicely placed at 65-2 with Daswani on 34 and Hill on 12.

The Hong Kong innings then accelerated with 50 runs coming in the next 4 overs and Daswani reached her second successive half century with a beautiful shot through mid-wicket. With 4 overs to go Hong Kong were 121-2 with Daswani on 60 and Hill on 30 and looked set for the second successive 160+ score.

Tight Korean bowling kept the score in check. The 100 partnership arrived in the 19^th over before Daswani was run-out in the final over for an excellent 77. Hong Kong finished on 151-3 with Hill unbeaten on 40.

The Korean opening pair of Kim and Baek hoped for a strong start to the chase. Ho opening the bowling from the far end picked up 2 wickets in the opening over dismissing Baek caught and bowled for 0 and Choi first ball. The Korean batswomen struggled to score in the face of some tight bowling by Ho and Chan.

The introduction of left arm spin in the form of Chan Sau Har proved an instant success with 2 quick wickets reducing Korea to 29-4 inside the first 9 overs. Shahzad was bought into the action and instantly got amongst the wickets dismissing Song.

Kary Chan added some icing to the cake by picking up two late wickets to hand Hong Kong a comfortable victory by 92 runs. Hong Kong go into tomorrow’s dead rubber, and final preview, against Japan full of confidence.

Result: Hong Kong 151-3 beat Korea 59-8 by 92 runs

Player of the Match: Yasmin Daswani (77 runs)

Full scorecard here

East Asia T20 Cup: Daswani Stars as Hong Kong Beat China

Game 2 of the 2017 East Asia T20 Cup saw the hosts Hong Kong take on China. Matches between these two fierce rivals have traditionally been keenly fought contests.

Birthday woman Yasmin Dawani ensured that this latest contest played at the Hong Kong Cricket Club was only ever going to end in a Hong Kong victory.

China’s captain Li Haoyue called correctly and China elected to field first.

Hong Kong’s opening pair of Daswani and Gill strode out purposefully and proceeded to take the attack to the Chinese bowlers during the initial power play period. Some fine attacking strokes from Daswani accompanied by some smart batting from Gill saw the partnership reach 50 in the 8^th over. Daswani in particular was keen to seize on any errors in line and length from the Chinese attack.

Hong Kong were well set at 80 for no loss after 11 overs with a total of 170+ looking possible given the hosts talented attacking middle order. The 100 partnership between Daswani and Gill coincided with an excellent half century for Daswani.

Chinese final broke the opening partnership at the start of the 17th with the score on 130 when the impressive Zhongyuan comprehensively bowled Gill for a well-made 35. China’s bowlers battled through the full 20 overs and did well to restrict Hong Kong 161-3.

Yasmin Daswani with an excellent 71 not out held the innings together for Hong Kong and China will be happy with the way that they bowled and fielded in the last 5 overs where at one stage 180+ looked likely.

China’s opening pair of Caiyun and Yanling started off positively against the experienced new ball pairing of Chan and Hill. Chan was the first to make the breakthrough with Caiyun well caught by Ho at mid-off with the score on 14.

Chan picked up hers and Hong Kong’s second wicket with an excellent diving catch by Chan Sau Har at extra cover with the score on 16. Annie Ho grabbed the 3^rd wicket after Yanling chipped the ball to captain Hill at short mid-wicket.

Ho was again in the action taking an athletic catch at mid-off to gift Gill a wicket in her opening over reducing China to 20-4 after 8 overs.

Some excellent batting from Z Chan (35) in the middle part of the innings kept China moving forwards as they finished on 75-5 after 20 overs and her form will be a plus for the team as they move into the later stages of this tournament.

Hong Kong’s fielding display was full of energy throughout with some excellent catches taken and high standards within the inner circle.

Overall, a comprehensive and clinical win for Hong Kong with Daswani the star. For China, they are lessons to be learned from today’s performance and much is expected of them over the weekend.

Result: Hong Kong 161-3 beat China 75-5 by 86 runs

Player of the Match: Yasmin Daswani (Hong Kong)

Full scorecard here: