DAY TWO COMMENTARY
[Photos]
by Doug Jones
Hong Kong, October 22: Good morning from Hong Kong. It is overcast and cool as HONG KONG take the field against SRI LANKA in the 1st game of the morning to determine semi final positions.
Hong Kong v. Sri Lanka
HONG KONG won the toss and are 15 for none after the 1st over. Sharma and Dar batting for HK and finding the boundary with competent regularity. Thushara bowling left arm medium pace is put into the sight screen for 6 in 2 consecutive balls by Sharma. HK 37 for 0 with 3 overs to bowl and SL look to Dilruwan Perera to stem the flow of runs. Great start by HK. Sharp caught and bowled dropped and Sharma takes the maximum with the next ball. Sharma retires at 32 and the HK captain Afzaal Haider comes and goes 1st ball and is replaced by former Leicestershire captain Phillip DeFreitas. Tabarak Dar retires on 34 and HK are 68 with 5 balls remaining. Frantic running and big hitting carries HK to 83 at the end of their 5 allocated overs.
SRI LANKA batsmen Kandami and Jayantha are to face Munir Dar. Kandami hit 34 off one over yesterday but today it is his partner looking for big 6s. Dar will have to do something and tries the slower ball which completely fooled the Jayantha but they have still scored 32 off the 1st over. DeFreitas to bowl and the left and right combination requiring fielding adjustment but these will not make any difference to balls going into the crowd! SL are 41 after 2 overs and Haider to bowl. The clash of cymbals and banging of drums from the Sri Lankan crowd keeping up constant support for their team. 2 overs to go and SL need only 25 to win. The 15 year old Irfan Ahmed to bowl. Great experience for the young lad. Good effort this by Irfan, just 6 off his 1st 3 balls. Kandami retires. He is the tournament top scorer with 94 runs from 3 innings. Excellent catch by Haider and SL are 75 for 1 with 9 runs required from the final over. Jayantha hits a big 6 to retire on 35 and Perera comes to the crease to close out SL's innings and the match. [Scorecard]
South Africa v West Indies
SOUTH AFRICA to bat with Morton to bowl for the WEST INDIES from the southern stand end. Dros and Bodi to do the batting. A couple of wayward balls results in RSA being none for 22 after the 1st over. Darren Sammy to take over the bowling and he is keeping it to singles. Dross is caught at mid-on and RSA are 1 for 24. 3 overs to go Sylvester Joseph to bowl and RSA are 28 for 1. South Africa are chipping away but WI are outstanding in the field. Bodi has held things together and retires on 34 with 8 balls to go. Last over to be bowled by Richard Kelly with RSA 65 for 1. A much better effort by RSA as they post their best total of the tournament of 86 as Tyrone Henderson retires on 34 with 1 ball remaining.
Morton and Simmons to open the batting for the WI with Eugene Moleon the 6 foot 8 inch opening bowler for RSA. Morton takes 10 off the 1st 2 balls. Sharp learning curve for Moleon and he responds by having Simmons out lbw as he keeps one straight and Simmons misses hitting across the line. After 2 overs the WI are 2 for 26 and Morton is back in the hutch after a skier to Bodi. WI can't get on top and wickets are falling as they try to break the shackles. 54 required form 12 balls for the WI. Looks too much but 23 from the penultimate over has brought them within striking distance with 31 required off the last. Tyrone Henderson will be trying to keep the screws on for RSA. 4 6s required from 4 balls but the WI can't do it as Richard Kelly's leg bail is removed as he tries to hit big over extra cover. WI finish on 69, short of their target of 87. A good win to RSA.
1st of the Plate finals next at 10:05 local time and it should be Hong Kong and Pakistan. [Scorecard]
Plate Semi-Final: Hong Kong v. Pakistan
Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat. Its quite hot now at 26 degrees centigrade and no breeze to speak of. Moin and Hafeez make their way to the middle and DeFreitas takes the ball for HK. The 1st ball goes for 4 followed by a dot ball and at the end of the 1st over Pakistan are 15 without loss. Young Ahmed to bowl the next. Pakistan look like they have lost some of their verve. Fine over from Irfan Ahmed with only 6 runs coming from it. Haider struggling with his rhythm a little but containing Pakistan all the same. Back of the bat shot for 6 by Moin and now his middle stump has been removed. Pakistan are 1 for 39 with 2 overs remaining. Munir Dar continues from the clubhouse end with left arm orthodox spin and it is of some concern to the Pakistani crowd that there are so few 6s in their innings. Sharma to bowl the last with Pakistan on 54 for 1. Hafeez goes on to 33 and retires with 2 balls to be bowled. Pakistan total 76 off their 5.
Sharma and Tabarak Dar to face Yasir Arafat. DeFreitas to the wicket after 4 balls with the score on 12. Hafeez to bowl to Sharma. HK are working hard against tight bowling from Latif. 3 overs remain and HK are 30 but mostly working the score in singles. Two overs remain and HK require 35 with Afridi to bowl. The equation is getting away from the HK batsmen as DeFreitas gets a top edge into his helmet and then is clean bowled by a quickish delivery from Afridi. HK require 29 off the last over to get to the Plate final and start with a 6 over the corporate tents at mid-wicket but in the end it is just too much for HK and they finish 15 short of their target on 62. [Scorecard]
Cup Semi-final: England v. West Indies
The Eagles are pumping it out as the crowd taps its feet and takes a breather during the hyperactivity of 6s cricket. England have won the toss and will bowl. Morton and Lendl Simmons lead off with Mascarenhas to bowl for England. Good catch by Darren Maddy and WI are 1 for 13 and Richard Kelly makes his way to the crease. 3 overs to come and WI are 29 for 2 with Croft to bowl the next over as the WI captain Sylvester Joseph comes to the wicket. Robert Croft goes for a couple of 4s and then strikes back with the wicket of Morton. 2 overs remain and the WI have 40 on the board with 3 wickets down. We saw how England dealt with Australia yesterday and this total does not look nearly enough. Kabir Ali bowling and a brace of 4s has pushed the WI total to respectable level of 58 with 1 over remaining. Sammy does well to dig out a Yorker and send it to the boundary and WI ends up with 73 off their 5 overs. Doesn't look enough but the WI have given it everything in the field.
Maddy and Read to open the England innings with Runako Morton to bowl. Maddy hits handsomely over deep square leg for 6 and then works the ball to mid-wicket for a single. 22 off the first and England are on their way. Read batting well but he's out for 27 at deep long on and is quickly followed by Maddy who is caught behind. England losing their way a bit as the WI fight back well. Croft to the wicket as Ali is the 3rd wicket to go and England require 36 runs from 13 deliveries. Dimitri Mascarenhas hitting well but will it be enough? England require 14 off the last over after a beautifully struck 6 by Robert Croft off the last ball of the over. Looking a bit desperate there for a while. In fact still is as Mascarenhas is caught and bowled and Alex Wharf come to the crease. Butler bowling for the WI and Croft has struck out to Simmons with England still needing 10 to win. Great excitement – wide bowled – 2 go the score. England need 7 off the last and baring disaster the WI have won. Huge excitement around the ground as the WI goes into the final of the Cup!!! What an upset. [Scorecard]
Plate Semi-final: Australia v. South Africa
Toss won by Australia who will bat and Scott Meuleman caught by his opposite number Gerald Dros. Australia 12 for 1 after 1 over and Dros to bowl the next. Only 24 runs off 2 overs and Anderson and Buchanan taking it slowly by 6s standards and Anderson departs caught by Bodi at deep long off. Buchanan batting well retires on 34 with Australia on 42 for 2 wickets and Daniel Christian comes to the crease. 12 balls remain and South Africa have done well with Bodi to bowl the next over. Christian out off a full toss and Skewes comes to the crease. Australia 56 for 3 with Henderson to bowl the last over of Australia's innings from the southern stand end and Australia end up with 63 from their 5 overs. That score looks a little lightweight with Australia's bowling attack I would venture to suggest.
Reardon to Dros and Bodi. Bodi bowled and Henderson to the wicket with RSA 1 for 4 after 5 balls and now 2 wickets in 2 balls but Nathan Reardon won't get a chance for his hat-trick until he comes to his next Hong Kong 6s. Buchanan to bowl and Dros puts him into the clubhouse and retires on 34 taking RSA to 38 for 2 after 2 overs. Meuleman to bowl his leggies but South Africa seem to have found some rhythm now as Amla works the ball through gully for successive 4s taking RSA to 56 with 12 balls remaining comfortably chasing Australia's total of 63. South Africa go to the final of the Plate while Australia play Hong Kong later this afternoon for the minor prize money. [Scorecard]
Cup Semi-final: India v. Sri Lanka
The winner goes through to play the West Indies in the final while the loser will play England for 3rd or 4th place.
India won the toss and Kanitkar to bowl. Crowd excited and Sri Lankan captain Jayantha and Kandami working the ball around well for 18 off the first over. Sodhi has been hit for consecutive 6s and strikes back by clean bowling Jayantha for 13. At the end of their 2nd over Sri Lanka are 33 for 2 with Kandami caught by Joshi at deep long off. That might slow down the Sri Lankan momentum but Joshi has just gone from rooster to feather duster as he drops a caught and bowled. Wijekoon is out caught by Kanitkar off a top edge and Sri Lanka have slumped to 40 for 4 with 2 overs to bowl. The Indian crowd are rampant in the stands. Razdan to bowl with Sri Lanka struggling. Now 5 wickets down with 1 over remaining. Perera to face Chopra with SL on 59 runs. Chopra taking all the pace off the ball and Perera can only work the singles until he is bowled middle stump with 2 balls remaining.
Fantastic cover drive to start the Indian innings by Sanjay Bangar. Wijekoon keeps it well up and straight for Sri Lanka. India determined not to lose early wickets. A thick edge goes for 4 and they are 16 without loss off the first. Thushara takes over from the clubhouse end. Sodhi places the ball beautifully through mid-wicket for 4 . A very measured approach to the game by India who are 0 for 24 requiring 44 from 18 deliveries to go through to the cup final. Perera to bowl and the Indian batsmen work it into the gaps for 4s. Bangar run out for 26 is a waste and India are 36 with 2 overs remaining. Robin Singh is caught behind and the Sri Lankans see an opening. Fernando disappears over the hospitality tents. 19 required off the last over by India. The wheels have come off since the run out and Sri Lanka have bowled well. Jayantha bowling, big 6 and 13 required off 4 deliveries. Another 6 and now only 7 off 3 deliveries. Huge excitement, everybody's heart in their mouth and a huge 6 by Sodhi takes the game for India who go through to the Cup final. [Scorecard]
Plate Play-off: Australia v. Hong Kong
Gunthorpe and Dar for HK face Christian from Australia and HK are 10 for 0 wicket after the 1st over. Big hitting by Dar takes HK to 31 for 0 off 2 overs. Meuleman attempts to stem the flow of runs but Dar slogs him to the boundary. Still, a very good over and HK are 40 for 0. Reardon takes over from Meuleman and nearly effects a run out but Dar gets home. Adam Gunthorpe holes out to Meuleman at deep mid-on and Irfan Ahmed comes to the crease as Tabarak Dar is retired for 31. Sharma is run out after leaving his crease and Munir Dar joins Irfan in the middle. Hong Kong total 64 runs. Steady performance without being spectacular.
Buchanan and Anderson to face Munir Dar and Buchanan is run out 1st ball trying to sneak a bye by Gunthorpe the wicket keeper. Meuleman is bowled 1st ball. Australia in desperate circumstances at 0 for 2. At the end of the 1st over Australia are 2 wickets down for 7 runs. We have had to wait 8 balls for the first 6 of Australia's innings, hit flat to square leg. A no ball 6 has helped Australia's total and Irfan has taken a bit of stick. With 3 overs to go Australia have moved onto 31 with no further fall of wickets. Massive 6 by Christian but he's out next ball trying to force another over the fence. Australia move on to 47 needing 18 off 2 overs. Tabarak Dar to bowl to Reardon and Australia push through to 63 as Haider drops a hard flat chance at long on which ricochets over the boundary for 6. Tim Neilsen is caught well off the last ball with the fielder Munir Dar leaping high to mark on the ropes in Aussie Rules fashion. 2 runs to get and Australia have 1 wicket left as Munir Dar takes another great running catch. Australia get home and Hong Kong and Australia bow out of the competition. [Scorecard]
Plate Final: South Africa v. Pakistan
Hope you are enjoying the fast and furious cricket action here from Hong Kong. Loud music rings through the air with beautiful dancers gracing the ground between each match – great fun and fantastic atmosphere.
Moin Kahn and Naveed Latif batting for Pakistan and Eugene Moleon bowling for RSA. Steady run of 4s brings the score to 15 for 0 off the 1st over. This match is worth USD$25,000 to the winner. Gerald Dros to bowl the next over from the clubhouse end. Moin finds his radar and puts Dros into the crowd. At the end of the 2nd over Pakistan are 0 for 35 and Bodi is brought on to bowl for RSA. Moin Khan retires for 32 and is replaced by Mohammad Hafeez who hits the 1st ball to the most distant corner of the ground for 4 and the next slapped square for 6 followed by a pull for 6. Slower ball driven wide of mid-off for 4. Huge over this for Pakistan who move onto 60 with Hafeez on 20. Moleon takes a catch that would otherwise have gone for 6 except for his huge frame and Latif is replaced by Afridi. He is castled 1st ball by Hantam who is now on a hat-trick but he is driven hard for 4 next ball. Pakistan on 81 for 2 with Tyrone Henderson to bowl the last for RSA. Henderson nearly takes a very hard hit, caught and bowled but in any event restricts Pakistan to 91.
While the dancers are entertaining the crowd, Pakistan are practicing their catching skills. They have to restrict South Africa to less than 91 to win the plate. Dros and Bodi lead the charge with 4s off Arafat's bowling and are 0 for 14 off the 1st. Enormous catch by Afridi to catch Gerald Dros off Hafeez's bowling. Ran 40 metres to dive and take the ball an inch from the turf. Bodi is lbw being hit in line with a full toss which is deemed to go straight on and hit the stumps. RSA struggling to make an impression on the scoreboard and need 73 from 18 deliveries. Moleon finds a couple of boundaries off Hussain's over and RSA move onto 31 runs. Afridi bowls Henderson with the slower ball and RSA in big trouble at 31 for 3 and 10 balls remaining. Afridi strikes again with the slower ball and Hantan replaces Amla. The final over to be bowled by Latif and RSA need plenty and consecutive 4s make only a small dent in the target. A well crafted and deserved win to Pakistan by 42 runs. [Scorecard]
Cup Playoff: Sri Lanka v. England
Sri Lanka have won the toss and chosen to bat 1st. These final 2 games will be 8 ball overs, ie 40 balls in an innings. The Barmy Army is shouting out “Come on England”.
Here we go and it is Jayantha and Kandambi for Sri Lanka to face Mascarenhas. Kandambi and his partner have put the ball to all parts of the ground – these boys can really hit and SL are 25 for 0 after one eight-ball over. Good catch by Maddy diving forward in the outfield sends Kandambi back and he is replaced by Fernando who is clean bowled 1st ball. Stumps and bails in all directions and Perera to face the hat-trick ball. He defends and Wharf then sends down a bouncer which is called wide. The early impetus has gone out of SL's innings momentarily. Wharf having difficulty controlling his length has made this at least a 10 ball over. At the end of the 2nd SL are 43 for 2. Robert Croft has clipped Perera's off stump and he is replaced by Wijekoon. At the half way mark SL are 50 for 3. Kabir Ali to bowl with 2 overs to go and the 1st ball has gone long over the clubhouse. SL have run away to 77 with 10 legitimate balls remaining. One over remains with SL 3 for 79. Fernando on 28 and Wijekoon on 19. Darren Maddy has bowled well and SL have closed their innings at 90 for 4.
Wijekoon to bowl to Read who pushes a single to bring Maddy onto strike. Quiet start in singles. Important not to lose wickets early when chasing. England 0 for 16 after the 1st over bringing Thushara to bowl the 2nd. England are just 22 off 2 overs. The winner gets USD$35,000 and the loser $30,000. Perera to bowl and he has split the webbing in his bowling hand fielding off his own bolwing. He continues after treatment and is reverse swept for 4, but all things considered England finding it difficult to break the shackles.
Fernando to continue and goes for 2 6s in a row giving the England supporters heart. Darren Maddy retires with 33 after 22 runs come from just 4 balls! Mascarenhas is bowled 1st ball and Kabir Ali enters the fray requiring 29 off 11 deliveries. England now require 15 runs off the last over and this should be a straight forward assignment. Chris Read retires on 33 after a big 6 and Robert Croft comes to the crease. Another huge 6 by Kabir Ali and there is only 2 runs required which Ali gets with the next ball. [Scorecard]
Don't go away, the Cup Final is up next between the WEST INDIES v INDIA. India won the toss and will bowl 1st.
Cup Final: India v. West Indies
India won the toss and will bowl 1st. The experienced Sunil Josji to Lendl Simmons. The WI are doing it like England in 1s and 2s. Joshi getting lots of work on the ball and absolutely no pace and WI score only 8 off their 1st over. Sodhi takes over and it is still hard going for the WI. Morton is given lbw with a ball which appears to strike the flap of the pad and may well have gone over the stumps. We will have to check hawk eye on that one. India keep the pressure on and WI are only 24 for 1 after 2 overs. Kanitkar to Simmons and WI know they have to get on their bike but it is just not happening. Kanitkar falls heavily trying to field off his own bowling but is right to continue. Half way and WI are only 33. High catch behind and Singh throws off the gloves only to drop the ball . Has he dropped $50,000 !!! 2 overs to go and WI are on 45. It doesn't sound much but this is the final and there is plenty of pressure out there. The WI players are trying to over hit the ball as they become increasingly frustrated and the scoreboard ticks over very slowly and perhaps the occasion has got too big for WI who haven't been engaged in the 6s since 1997. Chopra to bowl the last. Simmons retires on 31 and Sylvester Joseph strides to the crease and cracks the ball through extra-cover right out of the text book. WI innings closes on 72 and that looks eminently gettable for India who have batted very well in this competition. WI fans, don't give up, their fielding has been magnificent and they could still turn things around if they take the chances offered.
Sodhi and Bangar are opening for India with Runako Morton to bowl. First ball inside out over cover for 6 by Bangar! Next ball tucked into mid-wicket for 1. Sodhi works it around the corner for a 4 to fine leg. Sodhi to mid-wicket for 1. Bangar's leg stump has been ripped out of the ground and Robin Singh strides to the crease. Singh runs it to 3rd man off the meat of the bat with superb timing and leading from the front. India 1 for 17 off the first. Deighton Butler to bowl the 2nd. The Indian supporters are in full flight – no bird flu there. WI are keeping the pressure on in the field but Singh flicks it to backward square for 4. Sodhi off the outside edge to 3rd man for 4 and would be looking at the man of the tournament award. At the end of the 2nd over India are 1 for 30 and squeezing the lifeblood from the WI who desperately need wickets to break the Indian rhythm. Bail height no ball doesn't help when it goes for 4 (+ 2 for the no ball!). A breakthrough as Sodhi is caught by Morton and Kanitkar comes in. Singh through gully for 4 – fine shot that, beautiful timing. Run out chance but the keeper fails to gather cleanly and India run 2. Singh keeps 3rd man area busy and India go on to 51 with 16 balls remaining. Darren Sammy bowling with a 3 -1 off side field and has slowed the Indians right down but a high and handsome 6 straight down the ground relieve the pressure followed by 4 more through mid-wicket. 10 off 10 and the maths isn't too difficult and nor is the cricket for India. WI have it all to do.
India just content to push it around as they move towards their first ever International Cricket 6s victory. Robin Singh retires with 34 and India now need only 4 for victory. An easy win in the end and the Indian contingent goes crazy. Overall a great performance by the WI but they were outclassed in the final. Congratulations to India a richly deserved Cup win after losing their 1st match of the tournament to the WI!! [Scorecard]
That is it from Hong Kong. We hope you will join us in person next year. A thrilling version of this great game played in a magnificent spirit.
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