ENGLAND AIM FOR 'TWIN WINS' AT  2004 CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SIXES

Hong Kong, November 5: Defending champions England are  relishing the prospect of adding a second consecutive Cathay Pacific/Standard  Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes title to their collection at  this year's event, which commences tomorrow at the Kowloon Cricket  Club.

The US$260,000 championship returns to the famous club, set in  the middle of Hong Kong's bustling Kowloon peninsula, on November 6-7, with  the US$80,000 first prize also drawing teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,  Kenya, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and the hosts, Hong  Kong.

Three-time champions England have made the final in Hong Kong on  six previous occasions, although their victory in 2003 was a fine example of  the unpredictable nature of this shortened version of the game.

After  an opening-game loss to South Africa, Kenya needed a relatively modest 14 runs  off the final over of their second game to relegate the English to the Plate  phase of the competition. However, they survived that match and used the  momentum generated to claim the title.

A defeat of Sri Lanka on the  second day sent them into the elite Cup side of the draw and on to the title  after victories over New Zealand in the semi-final and two-time defending  champions, Pakistan, in the final.

Matthew Maynard, who will  again lead his country, said last year's adventures were an indication of the  excitement that the Sixes format offers fans. Of the event, that features  innings of just five overs each within the batting-friendly confines of the  Kowloon Cricket Club, he said: "I feel that the tournament offers so much to  cricket. It's exciting, innovating and appealing to the fans."

Joining  Maynard in the English side will be Kabir Ali, Darren Maddy and  Glen Chapple, all veterans of last year's triumph, plus newcomers  Graham Napier, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Chris Tremlett.  England are pooled with Hong Kong, Kenya and Sri Lanka and, as the  tournament's top seeds, will be favourites to progress to the Cup phase. They  will open their campaign against Kenya tomorrow at 11.30 am.

The  skipper is confident that his team's blend of youth and experience will  benefit the squad in their quest for the champions' Butani Cup, especially if  they have the chance to rack up some quality scores.

Said Maynard: "I  think it will help to have the nucleus of last year's team, as the guys know  what to expect. Saying that, we also have a couple of new guys who I hope will  make a big impression.

"I think each team will have its own different  tactics, depending on the make-up of the side. I don't believe there is an  advantage whether you bat or bowl first. But, as a rule, I would look to bat  first, getting the runs on the board."

Should Maynard's men make it to  the final, those tactics may well come into play with a unique innovation for  Sunday's final. Regular overs will be replaced by eight-ball editions, giving  the batsmen an extra 10 deliveries with which to take aim at the boundaries in  the decider.

On the opposite side of the draw this weekend at the  Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes,  Pakistan headline a group that includes traditional rivals India, along with  the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.

The Pakistanis, whose  passionate fans have been rewarded with dominance in recent years in Hong  Kong, including victories in 2001 and 2002 and last year's runner-up finish,  will be captained by batting whirlwind Shahid Afridi. His squad will  include Sixes returnees Naved Latif and Imran Nazir, plus  Yasir Arafat, Riaz Afridi, SyedHaider and Amir  Bashir.

The 2004 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong  International Cricket Sixes will take place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox's  Road, Kowloon, on November 6-7. A limited number of tickets will be available  at the gate. Further details are available at the Hong Kong Cricket  Association website at http://www.hkca.cricket.org

Provided by  Hong Kong Cricket Association. For more information, please contact Danny Lai  at (852) 2504-8101.