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Babar Hayat and Anshuman Rath Steer Hong Kong to Series Victory

Babar Hayat and Anshuman Rath stared in a rain-affected match as Hong Kong triumphed in the third and final One Day International against Papua New Guinea to seal a 2-1 series win at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.

After being set an intimidating 245 on a slow surface, captain Babar Hayat (82*) and Anshuman Rath (52*) produced an unbeaten 120-run partnership to guide the home side to victory. The target was adjusted to 178 runs in 38 overs after rain shortened the match while Hong Kong were 170-3 after 31 overs.

In the PNG innings a brilliant unbeaten 76 off 62 balls from Mahuru Dai, smashed in the final overs, saw the visitors recover from 144-6 to 244-7 from their 50 overs.

The chase was far from comfortable for Hong Kong, especially after Nizakat Khan was dismissed for 9 with the score reading 61-3. But Hayat and Rath both scored at near a run-a-ball to quickly shift the pressure back on to the Barramundis. Rath was named man-of-the-match after also taking 3-25 with the ball.

Hayat was named man of the series and was understandably delighted after the match. “I’m really proud of how we played and came back after losing the last game to win here,” Hayat said.

“It means a lot to us to win at home in front of our family, friends and fans and really pleased that our senior players stepped up. Obviously it gives us a lot of confidence for the Kenya series in a couple of week’s time.” Hayat added “I thought we improved on our fielding and rotating the strike today which is what we wanted to do.”

PNG coach Dipak Patel said the experience for his side had been a worthwhile one despite the loss. “We don’t handle the Asian conditions all that well and to lose the series was disappointing but from what we have learned it will be valuable for us,” Patel said.

“We’ve loved it here in Hong Kong and been looked after really well and we take away a huge positive of having come back to win that second game after going behind. It’s the last game for us this year so I was really pleased with their attitude.”

Hong Kong will travel to Nairobi next week to play two ICC World Cricket League fixtures against Kenya.

Match Summary
Hong Kong 181-3 in 33.3 overs
(Babar Hayat 82* Anshuman Rath 52*) def
Papua New Guinea 244/7 (Target revised to 178 off 38 overs due to rain)
(Mahuru Dai 76* Anshuma Rath 3-25)

Additional reporting: HK Cricket
Photo: Phoebe Leung

PNG Beat Hong Kong by 14 Runs

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Hong-Kong-v-PNG-2nd-ODI-Tin/i-sJS449r

Nadeem spins through Papua New Guinea top order, but Chad Soper’s six turns tide as PNG square the One Day International series against Hong Kong at 1-1 after producing a late fight back to win by 14 runs.

The six wicket haul to PNG opening bowler Chad Soper swung the game the way of the visitors as they successfully defended a score of 201 by dismissing Hong Kong for 186 in the penultimate over.

Hong Kong did look set for victory at 176-6 but lost their last four wickets for 11 runs. Earlier, it was spinner Nadeem Ahmed who starred for Hong Kong taking 4-50 from his 10 overs including the first three scalps.

PNG skipper Assad Vala made 70, which held the innings together in the middle overs on a wicket that turned sharply. Anshuman Rath backed up his impressive performance with the ball in the first game, taking 3-28 from his 10 overs.

In reply, Hong Kong were reduced to 31-3 in the chase, losing both Kinchit Shah and captain Babar Hayat without scoring. Starts were made by Jamie Atkinson (23), Nizakat Khan (33) and Anshuman Rath (21) but ultimately they did not capitalise.

19-year-old Shahid Wasif made an impressive 45 to take the score to 5-154. But the return of Soper brought his end as he became the first PNG player to take a five wicket haul in an ODI.

The late collapse was a major disappointment to coach Simon Cook who lamented his side’s missed chance at taking the series.

“We made the same mistakes as in the first time but this time it cost us,” Cook said. “We didn’t rotate the strike with the bat, which we spoke a lot about, and in the end we put ourselves under pressure because of it. It was a tough pitch and credit to PNG for how they bowled but I’m very disappointed we weren’t able to see it through.”

One Day International Series: Hong Kong v Papua New Guinea
Date: 4, 6, 8 November, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground
Tickets: $500, $30 from Ticketflap

Additional reporting: HKcricket

Hong Kong v PNG – 6 November, 2016

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A fair sized crowd enjoyed a sunny day’s cricket at Tin Kwong Road where Hong Kong lost to PNG in the second of three 50 over internationals.
Click on any photo for the full gallery of images

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https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Hong-Kong-v-PNG-2nd-ODI-Tin/i-5zRq6mZ

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Hong Kong Beat Papua New Guinea by 106 Runs

Captain Babar Hayat anchored Hong Kong to victory by 106 runs in the first One Day International against Papua New Guinea at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.

Hayat top scored with 77 in a Hong Kong innings that rebounded from 111-6 to reach 269 all out. On a turning track, that total proved enough as Papua New Guinea were dismissed for 163 after having been well in the match at 100-2 after 17 overs.

It was the introduction of spin that changed the course of both innings, Hong Kong fell from 105-2 to 111-6 after Mahuru Dai dislodged Nizakat Khan for 45.

But Hayat survived the carnage to make 77 off 95 balls, which in the end was hampered by a groin injury that could be put the skipper in doubt for the remainder of the series.

In the PNG innings it was Anshuman Rath who turned the tide for Hong Kong as the left arm tweaker picked up 3-22 from 10 overs. Hong Kong’s two other spinners Nadeem Ahmed (3-37) and Ehsan Khan (2-37) were also among the wickets.

“It was a great moment for me as first game as captain to get the win and to play well,” captain Babar Hayat said. “There was a lot of turn out there and our spinners bowled really well. I’m not sure about the groin, I will see the physio tomorrow and decide whether I can play in the next match.”

Hong Kong coach Simon Cook was particularly pleased “I was really happy with how we stuck in there after we lost wickets, the guys in the lower order made some important contributions that helped us get to a decent target.”

“The wicket definitely deteriorated in the afternoon, which probably made our target a more difficult proposition for them. I’m looking for us to improve our rotation of the strike in the next game, which will hopefully equal a few more runs from the top order.”

One Day International Series: Hong Kong v Papua New Guinea
Date: 4, 6, 8 November, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground
Tickets: $500, $30 from Ticketflap

Additional reporting and image: HKcricket

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Date: 9am, 19 November, 2016
Venue: The Peak
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Hong Kong Name Squad For Papua New Guinea ODI Series

HK Cricket announced a 14 man squad for this weekends three-game ODI series against Papua New Guinea that will be held at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground on the 4th, 6th and 8th November.

Former captain Jamie Atkinson makes his return after his absence due to work on the recent tour of the UK and Ireland. While ICC World T20 squad member Kinchit Shah has been recalled to the line-up, and the selectors have also named a new face in Kyle Christie.

“We welcome back Kinchit who has been in prolific form at the start of the domestic season and answered the coaching staffs request for runs,” Director of Cricket Charlie Burke said. “Kyle is Hong Kong born and currently playing in Perth Western Australia, we’re looking forward to having another pace option who is also a very handy batsmen.”

“Jamie is available for the home series against PNG, however won’t travel with the squad to face Kenya due to work,” Burke added. “We have come off a good series in the UK and we have a really important WCLC round against Kenya to come in mid November so this is a really important series for us and an opportunity for guys to push for a place in the best XI”

Hong Kong v Papua New Guinea ODI Series
1. Afzal Tanwir (Pakistan Assoc.), 2. Ahmed Nadeem (DLSWCC), 3. Ahmed Tanveer (KCC), 4. Atkinson James (KCC), 5. Carter Christopher (KCC), 6. Christie Kyle (Kalamunda Cc – Perth, Wa), 7. Hayat Babar © (DLSWCC), 8. Khan Aizaz (VC) (KCC), 9. Khan Ehsan (DLSWCC), 10. Khan Nizakat (HKCC), 11. Khan Waqas (DLSWCC), 12. Rath Anshuman (HKCC), 13. Shah Kinchit (KCC), 14. Wasif Shahid (DLSWCC)

Hong Kong v Papua New Guinea
Date: 4, 6, 8 November, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground
Tickets: $500, $30 from Ticketflap

Additional reporting and image: HK Cricket

HK Cricket Round-up: 29-30 October, 2016

Kowloon Cricket Club‘s dominant start to the season ended at the hands of rivals Hong Kong Cricket Club as the One Day Premier League title race remains wide open.

A late collapse saw KCC dismissed for 207, a target which HKCC knocked off with more than 12 overs and five wickets to spare. At one stage KCC had reached 166-3 in 35 overs thanks to contributions from in-form Hong Kong players Kinchit Shah (65) and Jamie Atkinson (58). But their dismissals saw KCC lose 41-7 and the unbeaten streak looked vulnerable.

Ryan Buckley‘s off-spin claimed 4-29, while Raag Kapur took 3-31.

Aside from losing a wicket in the first over, HKCC were rarely troubled in the chase as Hong Kong players Anshuman Rath (56) and Nizakat Khan (47) did enough to put the hosts in a strong position. For KCC, Tanveer Ahmed took 3-47 in a result that saw HKCC keep their Premier League title hopes alive.

Chasing teams had the better of both matches in Sunday’s Premier League, with the Cricket Hong Kong Independents XI scoring their first win of the season against Pakistan Association Cricket Club.

Chasing 271 for victory, CHK XI reached the target with three balls to spare in a thrilling contest at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.

Earlier, Ahsan Abbasi‘s late launch at number seven yielded 74 off 61 balls to catapault PACC to what looked a competitive total.

But a steady hand of 91 from opener Matt Stiller laid a solid foundation for CHK XI, before Hong Kong player Shahid Wasif made an unbeaten 59 off 57 balls to finish the chase.

Additional reporting: HK cricket

Women’s Premiership Preview – 29 October, 2016

This weekend’s Women’s Premiership features clashes between the league’s four remaining unbeaten sides. The title contenders will meet for the first time this season when USRC Tigers host Valley Black at Kings Park (3pm) and Gai Wu Falcons travel to Sports Road to play HKFC Ice in Saturday’s second tie between unbeaten sides at 6pm.

In the day’s third match, Kowloon will face off against SCAA Causeway Bay Phoenix at KGV, (6pm), with both sides having come close to their first wins of the season in recent weeks.

Valley Black have extended their historic two-year unbeaten streak into a third season, scoring 154 points in their three matches to date; third-ranked Tigers have posted a similarly impressive 126 points over their three victories this season.

The Tigers, who finished second in the league last year before being edged out of the Grand Championship stakes, have clear ambitions to figure in the top two this time around, but will be tested heavily on Saturday.

The scrutiny will go both ways as Valley are under no illusions as to what they can expect, with coach James Elliott calling Saturday’s match a “tough exam.” “None of the games are going to be easy, especially against Tigers, Football Club or, of course, Gai Wu. It is still just the start of the season so we need to be ready for anything.”

Despite facing their first real threat of the season, it’s business as usual according to Elliott.

“Our preparation has been nothing special, we have done some contact work and kept up on our fitness. We’re missing a couple of players, so there will be a bit of a reshuffle, particularly in the pack, but we have no major injuries.”

Spectators should be in for some exciting running rugby as two of the league’s premier backlines enter Saturday’s match. The Valley backline features a number of Hong Kong Sevens squad members and nearly the entire group was invited to trial for the National XVs earlier this week.

“Our backline performance will be hugely important. Tigers also have a great backline, and that is where the competition will be – I’m expecting an open, running game. It will be a fast game, which is fine for us, fine for both teams actually,” Elliott added.

Valley’s already imposing backline will be bolstered by the addition of sevens squad mainstay Colleen Tjosvold as she gets her first fifteens action of the season after being on international duty for Hong Kong early in the season. Tjosvold will join her sevens teammates Adrienne Garvey and Amelie Seure in the squad.

Valley captain Olivia Coady is excited about the challenge ahead; “We watched Tigers play last week [a 49-0 win over Kowloon]. They looked really strong. There has been some good competition already this season, but this weekend will be our biggest test so far.

“I’m also expecting a fast, running game, perhaps even a high scoring one. We don’t care about necessarily winning big, just winning,” Coady added.

Tigers coach Liu Kwok-leung agrees that the Premiership is about to get much more challenging for his team. “It’s the time to test the players in the field. Valley is a top team and I expect to learn a lot about our players, and about Valley, tomorrow. And they will learn a lot too. Every season when we play them, it exposes something, and I hope it will be positive for us tomorrow.”

National team players Natasha Olson-Thorne, Nam Ka-man and Lindsay Varty are all back from duty and are set to start for Tigers, and with only a couple of injuries to disturb his selection options, Liu expects a tight match saying, “It will be really close but we don’t feel too much pressure.”

Having earlier in the season expressed concern over his charges’ ability to maintain focus for the full 80 minutes, Liu believes there is enough in his team to give champions Valley a real fight.

“We’ve done a lot of work on our defence and our players have grown a lot since last season. We will focus on our defensive patterns, and if we can maintain them and convert defence into attack smoothly, it’ll be a really exciting game that brings out the best in both teams.”

Gai Wu will take their perfect record to meet fellow unbeatens HK Football Club. On current form they should have the upper hand, however, their hopes to add a league-leading fourth consecutive shutout could be in jeopardy against a battling Football Club outfit.