Hong Kong have marked their first official One Day International on home soil with a comprehensive 109-run win in their World Cricket League Championship match against Scotland.
Sent into bat under grey skies at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, the home side posted 259 thanks to a record 170-run partnership between Anshuman Rath and Nizikat Khan.
In response, captain Tanwir Afzal led from the front with 3-21 from 10 overs to help dismiss Scotland for just 150.
But it was the partnership of Rath and Nizikat, a record in one-day internationals for Hong Kong, that proved most crucial after Hong Kong had wobbled early at 3-55.
Rath was largely the steady hand, scoring his 97 from 136 balls, while Nizikat was more brutal striking at better than a run a ball for most of his innings.
At one stage Hong Kong had reached 3-225 with seven overs to go but some tight Scottish bowling skittled the lower order. The final seven wickets fell for just 34 runs. Ali Evans was the pick of the bowlers for Scotland with 4-41.
But 259 looked a far more intimidating total after Tanwir removed Scotland’s key duo Kyle Coetzer (6) and Matthew Machan (0) in consecutive balls. Spinner Nadeem Ahmed cleaned up the lower order, taking 4-26 off his 8.1 overs. Callum McLeod played a lone hand for the Scots, making 58 off 78 balls.
Man of the Match Anshuman Rath applauded his batting partner Nizikat for helping him reach his highest ODI score. “To be honest, a lot of credit goes to Kat, I was sort of getting edgy as I faced quite a lot of balls but he kept me grounded,” Rath said. “I think the win is a big, big confidence boost that not only we beat them, but beat them in a fairly convincing manner.”
The second ODI is on Thursday with two more Twenty20 matches scheduled for the weekend.
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
But 259 looked a far more intimidating total after Tanwir removed Scotland’s key duo Kyle Coetzer (6) and Matthew Machan (0) in consecutive balls. Spinner Nadeem Ahmed cleaned up the lower order, taking 4-26 off his 8.1 overs. Callum McLeod played a lone hand for the Scots, making 58 off 78 balls.
