Welcome to the 2006 Hong Kong Cricket 6s at the Kowloon Cricket Club. It is a crisp morning, light breeze from the east and the crowd is just starting to trickle through the turnstiles. The KCC ground is orientated north/south with the southern end abutting the Kowloon Bowling Green Club and the northern end adjacent to the clubhouse.
I will be lead by Travis Pittman, the Captain Mainwaring of this commentary, assisted with distance vision by Nigel ‘the Berger’ Stearns, former Hong Kong cricket captain supplemented by the occasional comment on the game by Mark 'Stead' Eames current Hong Kong selector and former Hong Kong player.

It is a festive atmosphere with music pounding out across a carpet of grass while Pakistan and Hong Kong go through their loosening routines in the foreground.

Match One - Pakistan v. Hong Kong, Pool 3

The first game is about to get underway. Umpires Peter Counsel (UK) and Gamini Silva (SL) have made their way to the centre. Hong Kong have won the toss and will field first. Nazir, the Captain of Pakistan to face with Yasir Arafat. The Hong Kong captain Najeeb Amar has gone out of the ground back over his head! Second ball is pushed forward of square for 4 and the next ball smashed over long on for another 6. The 4th ball has gone high over deep mid wicket for 6 and so has the next. Relief for HK as the next ball is pushed for only 2. Pakistan 0 for 30 off 1. Munir Dar to bowl the next and he is full length to Arafat who takes 1. Good change of pace by Munir and the ball trickles down to third man and the batsmen run 2. The next ball is straight driven for 4 followed by a no-ball turned around the corner for a single. Imran smashes the next ball for 4 past wide mid-off and now has to retire on 34. The wicketkeeper Hasan Raza comes to the middle and starts with an outside edge for 4 through slips. None for 49 off  2 overs. Fuzes to bowl and is picked up outside off stump and hit for 6 over square leg. A single to long on and a sharp caught and bowled just evades the bowler. The 5th ball is hit flat for 4 to wide midoff while Arafat takes 2 steps down the pitch and into the grandstand at the bowling green end. At the end of the 3rd over Pakistan are 0 for 69 and looking very comfortable while HK look harassed. Irfan’s first ball isguided through the gully for 4 by Raza. Irfan has momentarily staunched the flow and a lucky outside edge goes through 2nd slip for 4. Irfan has made the Pakistani batsman play regulation strokes and at the end of his over Pakistan are 0 for 81. The last over from the Bowling Green end will be bowled by Nadeem Ahmed. Raza takes 2 step and lifts Nadeem over extra cover for 6 and then dispatches the next ball outside the ground over long on. An attempted sweep catches a bottom end and trickles away for single. Arafat retires on 33 with a lift over backward square leg just evading the outstretched arms of Mark Fuzes. Hasan Raza hits the last ball for 6 and retires on 32 and Pakistan are 110 for 0 off their 5 overs. Not to make too much of this but that was a comprehensive battery by the Pakistan batsmen and HK will need to improve their bowling to be competitive in this event.

Hong Kong to bat and they are led out by Najeeb Amar and Munir Dar to face the first over from Riaz Afridi from the Bowling Green end pushed away for a single - big contrast to Pakistan’s opening. Hong Kong working it around but not finding the fence and finally find the fence at long on. Najeeb finally latches on to a ball on middle and leg and smashes it for 6 over mid on. Last ball is pushed for a single and Hong Kong are now 14 for 0 at the end of the 1st over. Second over from Imran Nazir to Munir Dar and sweeps the first ball to backward square for 4. Next ball is wide and the batsmen run a single, followed by 2 leg byes a swing and a miss and a bye. 5th ball is swung over midwicket for 6 and the 1st wicket falls as Dar is bowled off his pads. Rahul Sharma enters the fray Wide and a run takes HK to 36 as Najeeb hits to mid on. The 4th over for Pakistan to be bowled by Latif and Sharma takes him into the stand over mid on and then runs a leg bye. Latif is spraying them around a bit and gets one straight which goes back over long on for 6. Sharma doesn’t get hold of all of the ball and it lobs between cover and mid off to take HK to 55 after 3 overs. Mughal has pinned Sharma down until he hits out over midwicket followed by a cheeky single and at the end of that over HK are 1 for 64, a long way away from Pakistan’s 111! The last over by Yasir Arafat and Sharma is run out attempting the impossible single. Fuzes to the middle and starts by swatting the ball to long on  for a single. Najeed has a hoik and a miss. Fuzes places a late cut for 2 and tucks one around the corner for 2. At the ned of HK’s innings HK at 71.  A resounding win by Pakistan who take 2 points from that encounter and HK zero.

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Match Two - South Africa v. New Zealand Kiwis, Pool 2

NZ won the toss and are bowling to Henderson and Albie Morkel. Glen Sulzberger is bowling right arm round the wicket and struck through cover for 4. Second ball cut through gully for 4. The next ball is wide down the leg side but missed by the batsman who takes the next ball straight down the ground and the next a big 6 over mid on. A spectacular run out which has resulted in Morkel summersaulting over the bowler and impacting with the astro and appears to have injured his back. The new batsman is Imraan Khan to face Danny Morrison with RSA on 24. Henderson take a 6 and 4 through mid off with Danny Morrison coming onto the bat and suiting the batsman who hits through the ball and it is no surprise that Morrison changes pace to induce a swing and a miss. A miss field at wide mid-off brings up a 4 off the last ball and takes the score to 40 for 1. Steve Wilkins to bowl for NZ and starts with a ‘lucky’ legside bye. The next ball is driven straight for 4 as the breeze picks up and then scamers through for 2. Khan to face and hits the all backward of square for 4 to take RSA to 52.  Last ball of Wilkins over and he will be followed by Richard Petrie from the Clubhouse end. Henderson hits him over extra cover for 6 off the back foot. Good shot that. Petrie has tightened it up and the runs are coming in singles. 4th ball pulled to the midwicket fence for 4 as the crowd builds up but is subdued. A single trumpet blast accompanies a 6 off the last ball over mid off’s head. At the end of the 4th over RSA 75 for 1. last over bowled by Craig Spearman of Gloucester and NZ breaking WG Grace’s highest score record. Henderson hits him for 6 and retires on 32 and Bodi walks to the centre whipping the 1st ball through midwicket for 6 but he’s out on the next ball as he goes down on one knee and is caught at deep mid-off. RSA 89 off their 30 ball allotment.

NZ are led out by Spearman and Petrie to face Imraan Khan with umpires Mike Walsh and Gamini Silva. Craig Spearman sweeps the 1st ball around the corner for 4 then drives the next through mid off for 4. A full toss is pulled away for 6 over square leg then drives for a single and Petrie help himself to a full toss for 6 over midwicket. Khan bowls a succession of wides as he tries to evade being smashed to the fence. 27 coming from the 1st over as the last ball is a very sharp caught and bowled chance. Henderson goes for 4 though cover and then a push to mid off for a single. Henderson will bowl 2 overs for the injured Albie Morkle but at present as he goes for 2 6s in a row it appears and expensive election. Spearman retires on 31 with NZ 44 off 2 overs and seemingly cruising. Boje to bowl to Petrie and the scoring has stopped as Boje successfully claims Petrie's wicket caught behind. The Berger’s observation was that umpire Silva took some time to put the digit up!  Great over for RSA and NZ are now 56, requiring 33 off 12 balls.  The first 2 balls of Henderson’s over have gone for 8. Swing and a miss and NZ are 69 needing 20 from the last 6 legitimate balls. Bodi to bowl and Sultzberger settles for a single and Bailey caught Henderson at backward square leg and RSA have pulled ahead with NZ needing 19 off 4 balls. Wilkins hits a 6 over 3rd man with 3 balls remaining. 12 off 2 – but NZ can only manage 4s. Sultzberger caught and bowled off the last and RSA win by 8 runs, taking 2 points.

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Match Three - Australia v. West Indies, Pool 1

Umpires Warburton and Walsh with Ronchi to face Deonarine and the game begins with a bye followed by Simpson hitting a straight flat 6 very sweetly struck.  Another 6 over square leg then a top edge to 3rd man for 4 – not elegant but effective. Front foot smash over midwicket for 6 then straight for 4. Sami to bowl the second over with Oz 35 for 0. Ronchi is out caught at mid on and Simpson retires for 32. Hastings to face Sami, flicked off the pads for a single. At the end of the second over Oz are 45 for 1 with Joseph to bowl the next over to Bardy. Bowled him – Hastings  tries to hit across the line and has his leg stump cleaned up. Neilson to face but he lofts it straight to wide mid-on and he’s on his bike. Matthew Gale comes to the crease with the WI skipper Joseph on a hat-trick and he’s bowled him. Simpson returns to the middle having retired with Marlon Samuels bowling. Gale takes 4 behind square and then Simpson hits 6 over mid on followed by a flat back single to the same area. With one over remaining Oz are 73 for 4.  Easuan Crandon to bowl to Gale who hits the first for 4 to mid wicket. Simpson hits it 15 rows back into the stand over mid off and that is his 50! And Gale chimes in with a big 6 but is bowled off the last ball. Australia scored 92 in their 5 overs with an outstanding 50 by Chris Simpson.

WI will open with Marlon Samuels and Carlton Baugh fresh from the ICC final in Mumbai. Simpson goes for 2 6s in a row and a couple of 4 and at the end of the over WI are 19. Gale goes long over the clubhouse for 2 6s in a row and a 4 and Marlon Samuels retires for 35. Crandon comes to the crease with WI on 36. Gale keeps the ball well up to the batsman and after 2 overs the WI are 40 runs. Ronchi to bowl for Oz and is cut over backward point for 6 followed by a 4 through gully. Carlton Baugh is caught behind and is replaced by Sylvester Joseph.  Cramps the batsman who squeezes it for 2 runs then a big swing and a miss. With 2 overs to go the WI are 53 chasing 92. Hastings to bowl and Joseph is dropped on the boundary. Singles and 4s coming freely and a wide. WI 64 with 2 balls remaining and a swing and miss but the last ball has gone for 6. WI need 22 off the last with David Bandy to bowl. The first ball goes for 1 to mid off.  The 2nd for 1 to mid off left hand. A wide and a single to mid on followed by a 6.  2 deliveries and need 11 to win. Its gone for 6 and with 1 ball WI need 6 to win but it only goes for 4. It’s a tie – 91 runs apiece!!!  Great game, good crowd involvement. In the event of a tie, the side loosing the least wickets win and so WI take the points.

[Scorecard]

Match Four - Hong Kong v. Sri Lanka, Pool 3

HK won the toss and have elected to bowl first. SL Kandambi to face Dar.  First ball is a bye, second is wide, followed by another wide. These extras are worth 2 runs plus the extra ball and really hurt the fielding side. Driven off the back foot for 4 through extra cover by Kandambi. Off their 1st over SL cored 17 runs. Irfan Ahmed to bowl for HK to Jayantha. The young lad keeps it tight and SL can only manage singles. At the end of Irfan’s over SL are only 24. Great over and Mark Fuzes to take up the attack. He is swung to backward square leg for 4 and then listed over mid wicket by the left hander effortlessly for 6. Fuzes finds a length and restricts the next ball to a single and then Najeeb drops Jayantha at mid on but this time he is out caught by Munir Dar. At the end of the 3rd over SL are 38 and Mahmood to bowl for HK. 4 leg byes helps SL but none of the big hitting we have seen from SL at past tournaments so far. Weerathne goes really big for 6 taking SL to 52 with Najeeb to bowl the last but he starts wit a wide. A quick return to the bowlers end sends Weerathne back to the pavilion replaced by Lokuhettige and Kandambi retires on 31. Lokuarachchi replaces him with 3 balls to go. Flat bat slap for 6 over cover with a sweep to leg well fielded by HK has restricted SL to 73 off their 5 overs.

HK will open with Najeeb and Dar and from the Bowling Green end Gayan Wijekoon to bowl. HK push a single to get under way. They are not finding the boundaries at present which will put the pressure on later. Top edge for 6 helps – they all count in the score book. That is 3 no balls this over and a good one for HK as they reach 28. Lokuhettige to bowl and a wicket as Dar is caught behind. Sharma to the crease and immediately caresses the ball to the cover fence. A big 6 into the tennis courts at the Clubhouse end by najeeb followed by a top edge knick for 4. HK need 33 off 18 balls with 44 off the first 2 overs. Sharma and Najeeb work the ball around and now a 6 comes. Sharma dances down the wicket but is bowled middle stump. Mark Fuzes to the middle. HK 55 for 2 requiring 19 off 12 balls with Weerathne to bowl. Flicked by Fuzes for 4 down to fine leg. More an orthodox cricketer than a slogger but perhaps that is what HK need right now. Najeeb retires on 34 and he is replaced by the 17 year old Irfan. HK are 70 requiring 4 to win with the last over to be bolwed by SL captain. Mark Fuzes hits the first ball for 6 and HK win their first game of the tournament. Well played Hong Kong.

[Scorecard]

Match Five - England v. South Africa, Pool 2

England won the toss and elected to bowl. Darren Gough to bowl to Henderson. Good English team this year, full of big names. Goughie has kept the runs to singles except for 1 full toss which was dispatched and forced the batsmen to play regulation shots. At the end of his over RSA are 0 for 16. Dominic Cork starts with a quick bouncer which of course is a no ball! The second is hit into the HKCA box and dropped. Bodi has hit his straps with a 6 and 4 off successive balls and Henderson has hit the ball out of the ground. At the end of 2 overs RSA are 41 with the next over to be bowled by Glen Chapple and a run out first ball. Nicky Boje comes to the crease and starts with a 4 through the slips. Gulan Bodi, left hander, picks up Chapple and lifts him high over mid-wicket and retires for 31 replaced by Khan.  14 off Chapple’s over taking RSA to 55 with the next over to be bolwed by Kabir Ali. Nicky Boji great shot though mid wicket for 4 followed by a miss-field by Cork and 4 to wide mid-off and another straight down the ground and another to the same place. Wide ball by Ali sensibly takes Boje away from the strike but it doesn’t stop the runs. One over to go and RSA are on 84. Darren Maddy from the Bowling Green end and he bowls Boje first ball.  Tsolekile to the middle and he reaches forward taking the ball on the full and round the corner for 4.  At the end of their innings RSA are 3 for 98 with a run out off the final ball. This will test the batting of England.

Kabir Ali and Darren Maddy with Kahn to bowl. Maddy finds the boundaries in 6s and 4s until he miscues to Bodi in the deep and he’s out. Loye to the middle and he starts with a 4 and England are 1 for 20 off the first. Boje to bowl with batsmen scampering through taking England’s total to 39 off 3. Tsolekile bowling with good change of pace and England are struggling to get going and Kahn catches Ali at mid-wicket and Cork heads to the middle with Henderson taking over the bowling. Great over by Tsolekile taking 1 for 6 off his over which has sunk England I’m afraid. Mal Loye retires on 33 and Glen Chapple comes to the middle. England are 60 needing 39 from 6 balls. Bodi bowling the last over but the crowd have been deflated by this very good performance by RSA. Cork is out caught and bowled and Darren Gough comes to the crease with 3 balls to go but it is well and truly over with an easy win to RSA over England who made 70.

[Scorecard]

Match Six - Australia v. India, Pool 1

Simpson and Ronchi for Oz with Joshi to bowl and takes Ronchi’s middle stump out of the ground. Matthew Wade comes in with Oz 1 for 0 or 0 for 1, in any event it isn’t good. However Simpson continues to hit hard and long over the scoreboard and after 6 balls Oz are 19 for 1. Bangar to bowl to Wade who has 2 swings for 2 misses. The Indian section of the crowd are now very vocal. Oz having trouble getting Bangar away and at the end of the 2nd over Australia are 27 for 1. Simpson retires after  another fine 32 and Bandy to the crease. Oz 1 for 41 with 2 overs remaining with this to be bowled by Sodhi. First ball of Sodhi’s over is a single down to third man. Second ball is a delightful shot through the covers for four but the next ball he is out. Oz are 2 for 46 with Bandy out caught. Hastings the new batsman. Fourth ball a gentle push to mid on for a single. A swing and a miss as the batsmen scramble through for a bye. Last ball now and one run down to mid on. A good over from Sodhi with only 8 runs scored and the wicket of Bandy. Last over to be bowled by Chopra. A single off the first ball, 6 runs off the next, then another single. The Aussies haven’t scored enough here and have ended their innings with 64 for the loss of 2 wickets.

[Scorecard]

Match Seven - Pakistan v. Sri Lanka, Pool 3

Imran Nazir and Yasir Arafat and like their innings against HK they start with a 6 off Lokuhettige and another off the 3rd ball. A 4 to long on  and a 6 into the swimming pool - Imran can really hit. At the end of the 1st over Pakistan is 0 for 27. Wijekoon will attempt to stop the run flow but it doesn’t happen immediately with the 1st ball pulled to mid wicket and the 3rd ball slapped over wide mid off for 6. Imran has been caught at mid-off. Pakistan are 1 for 46 after 2 overs. Lokuarachichi has been hit to all areas of the ground and Pakistan have rocketed to 62 and Arafat retires for 32. Latif in the middle and starts with a big 6 to take Pakistan to 1 for 74 with 2 overs remaining. This Pakistan team can really hit but Raza gets a fine edge and is caught behind. It doesn’t matter because Tahir Mughal hits the first 3 balls for 6 and Pakistan are 2 for 104 with 6 balls remaining. Jayanatha the SL captain takes over the bowling because I guess there were not many volunteers. He has slowed the run rate and bowled Latif and Afridi comes in with 1 ball remaining. Pakistan finishes with 109.

SL start with Kandambi and Lokuhettige with Afridi to bowl for Pakistan. Bowling with good pace and accuracy the first over goes for 4. Makes 110 look a long way away. Latif takes over and the Sl batsmen find some rhythm punching the ball to the boundary. Bowled off a no ball and the batsmen take a quick single. Sharp work by Latif runs out Lokuhettige and in comes Kaushal Lokuarachichi. After 2 overs SL are 21 for 1. Imran takes another wicket and SL are really struggling at 32 for 2 with 11 balls to go. Tahir Mughal continues the attack and although there are a few boundaries coming it is too late. One over remaining SL are 56 for 2 with Arafat to bowl the last over. Pakistan win easily and look red hot favourites for the championship. This would mean SL and Australia are eliminated having not won either of their pool games.

[Scorecard]

Match Eight - New Zealand Kiwis v. England, Pool 2

This is the final game in pool 2. Big improvement expected here from England if they are to stay in the competition. NZ won the toss and will bat. Craig Spearman and Petrie to open with Gough to bowl. Spearman finds the boundary then whips it round to fine leg to see the balls stopped just short of the rope. At the end of the first over NZ are 0 for 14. Cork takes over at the Clubhouse end and Petrie take 1 to long off. Spearman hits him for 6 over mid on then works a single to covers. Cork has bowled well but if it is slightly over pitched Spearman sends it into the crowd. Spearman retires on 31 with NZ 0 for 35 and Tim Bresnan to bowl the 3rd over. The scoring has slowed but the occasional edge still flies to the boundary for 4. 2 overs remain with NZ on 50. Big swing by Petrie, off stump cannons out of the ground and tumbles about 10 meters. New batsman is Sulzberger batting with Mark Bailey. Chapple keeps it tight and the NZ runs dry to a trickle with only one 4 coming from the over. Last over to be bowled by Darren Maddy. NZ still working the ball around but Bailey is run out going for the second. New batsman is Steve Brown with 3 balls to go. NZ finish with 81 off their allotted overs. Defendable total which England probably fancy themselves chasing down.

England are opening with Maddy and Loye with Sulzberger to bowl. Loye pounds him to the mid wicket boundary despite the 3 to 1 field and then applies the reverse sweep to the cover fence. At the end of the 1st over England are 0 for 20. Petrie to bowl with England swinging and making contact with the fence. The non-striker’s nightmare – Maddy run out backing up with a deflection off the bowler’s hand. Dominic Cork comes to the crease. England are 1 for 31 with 3 overs remaining. Wilkens to bowl and England sneak a single but they are going to need some big hitting soon and just in time Cork hits a successive 6s and 4s to take England to 62, requiring 20 off the last 12 balls. Steve Brown to bowl and Loye hits a 6 to retire on 32. Tim Bresnan takes is place and puts the ball in the same place in the mid-wicket crowd. Bresnan and Cork push the ball around pretty easily to make the scores tied at 81 with 1 over remaining.  England finish off NZ comprehensively with a 6 over fine leg.

[Scorecard]

Match Nine - India v. West Indies, Pool 1

Toss won by WI and they will bowl to Sodhi and Bangar. Tonito Willette opens from the Bowling Green end and he whips it through shoulder high. Sodhi puts the next ball over the backward square leg fence for a mighty six. The next ball is a no-ball but they run and Bangar is run out. Total mix up and the crowd are hushed. Kanitkar to face and he runs the ball down to the 3rd man fence for 4. At the end of the 1st over India are 17 for 1. Crandon to bowl and he gets the edge of the bat through 4th slip for 4 runs. Kanitkar hits 2 fours and a six and Crandon wonders what to do as another ball crashes into the pickets and then the bowler looses it with successive wides followed by another 4 driven straight at the umpire. Last ball of the over and Sodhi is struck on the pads. 30 runs off the over and India are 1 for 47. Sylvester Joseph to bowl the next over to try and quieten things down. A desperate lunge by Willette near the boundary has ended in a dislocated shoulder for him and he leaves the field. He caught his arm underneath him as he slid to stop the ball. Sodhi hits a massive six onto the Bowling Green and India are now 69 for 1 with 2 over still to be bowled. Marlon Samuels bowls from the KCC Clubhouse end. Robin Singh hits the ball hard and handsomely but only 13 runs from the over. Darren Sammy to bowl the final over with India on 81. Massive hit by Sodhi takes him to 32 and retirement and he is replaced by Sunil Joshi. Sammy has bowled 2 no balls which have both gone for 6. Another 6, this is really getting away from the WI and thank God there is a dot ball. India finish at 1 for 112.

Can’t help feeling this is too much for the WI outfit. Samuels and Baugh to face Joshi. A couple of early boundaries sets them on their way. Samuels wallies the next ball into the crowd over mid on. He really is a clean hitter when he moves down the wicket into his shot -  3 massive sixes – a dangerous day to be lawn bowling. WI are 0 for 27 after 1. Bangar to bowl and a 6 over extra cover for Samuels to retire at 32. Crandon takes the crease with swing and a miss. Baugh hits a 6 to mid wicket and then Crandon hits a skier to be caught by Sodhi at 3rd man. WI are 2 for 42 with Kanitkar to bowl to Joseph who hits him for 2 6s the second on which you would need to catch the MTR to track down. This time he’s out but it’s a no ball and so he takes 2 more successive 6s and hits 31 runs, now needing 40 runs off 2 overs. Chopra to bowl to Joseph and he punches it down the ground for a single. The big 6s aren’t coming. Terrific over by Chopra, just 8 runs from it and the WI need 32 off Sodhi’s last over. Baugh retires on 34 and Sammy comes to the crease but it is all too much for WI and India wrap it up in the end by 18 runs. Great effort by the WI but it was just too much and India were deserved winners.

[Scorecard]

Match Ten - India v. England, Bradman Group

India won the toss and Sodhi and Bangar will open the Indian innings. Darren Gough to bowl. Gough bowls straight and full, India takes singles. Umpire Walsh has given Bangar out caught behind. Kanitkar comes to the wicket and Gough completes with a wicket and 7 runs from the over. Chapple to bowl from the clubhouse and the 1st ball is over mid on for 6, the 2nd goes even bigger in the same place. Sodhi glides the next for 4 through gully and hits the next for 6 right at us at cow corner! Regathered my equilibrium now with India on 33 but the last ball goes for 6 and Sodhi retires. India 39 and the Indian captain Robin Singh comes to the crease. Tim Bresnan to bowl and Singh smacks it through the covers works it to 3rd man and India seem to be scoring a will, showing the gulf in class between Darren Gough and the other English bowlers. Bresnan fights back bowling Kanitkar bringing Joshi to the middle. 2 overs remain and India are on 49. Cork to bowl and keeps the 1st 2 balls tight but the next ball is wide of the left hander’s off stump and it is square driven for 4. Last ball of Cork’s over and its gone for 6 taking India to 64 with 1 over remaining to be bowled by Darren Maddy. Singh gets some bat on a ball down to fine leg fielded by the keeper. Joshi hits a 6 over mid-wicket, then a fine edge for 4 through 3rd man followed by a 6 over long off. Robin Singh was run out off the last ball with England chasing 84 to win. 

England start with Maddy and Loye while India open the bowling with Sunil Joshi and Loye is bowled around his legs for a duck second ball. Dominic Cork is the next man in. England will need a captain’s innings. He has started well with a 2, 4 and 6 – that is the maximum and at the end of the 1st over England are 1 for 14. Bangar to bowl the next and Cork only gets some pad on the ball. A Viv Richards type pull off the front foot advancing down the wicket. Maddy smashes Bangar over the square leg fence and after 2 overs England are 1 for 32. Sodhi to bowl and Maddy flicks him for 6 and 14 off 3 balls but he gets a top edge skied to the keeper. Tim Bresnan comes to the wicket with England needing to maintain momentum. Dominic Cork does the job with a 6 and a 4 to take England to 56 for 2 with 12 balls remaining. Chopra to bowl. He did so well last match, can he do it again. Cork retires at 31 and Glen Chapple comes in. Chopra is doing it again and only 5 runs coming from the over. England requires 23 to win off the last over. Robin Singh to bowl. Bresnan starts with a 4 and a single. Getting tough! 3 balls and 18 runs required, run out missed when the keeper didn’t have the ball taking the bails off but in any event it is all over unless there is an illegitimate delivery. The last 2 balls go for 10 but it is not enough and India win by 3 runs.

[Scorecard]

Match Eleven - West Indies v. Hong Kong, Sobers Group

HK won the toss and will bowl opening with Munir Dar. Baugh and Samuels to open for WI. Munir keeping it up to the batsmen and keeping it tight trying not to let the WI get off to a flier. A great start by Dar with just the 8 runs off the over. Irfan to bowl from the Clubhouse end and a catch dropped first ball and as so often happens the next ball goes for 6 and the next one the same result. At the end of that over WI have rocketed to 36 and Samuels retires on 31. Fuzes needs to bowl well and takes a wicket first ball and Baugh is back to the change rooms. Crandon to the wicket and Fuzes goes for 6 but now he’s bowled Crandon and Darren Sammy comes into bat. Good effort that by Fuzes, 2 for 10. Mahmood to bowl, it needs to be steady for HK, not spectacular. 2 6s in a row as Joseph swings through the line and Mahmood doesn’t vary his pace. One over to go and the WI have got away to 71 with Najeeb Amar to bowl the last over. The pickets are rattling but the ball is not being lost deep in the stand. The WI end up with 87 off their 5 overs as the sun starts to disappear behind the concrete parapets of Kowloon.

The Berger’s comment: the crowd seems to be fatter this year!! Ah yes, thank you.

Najeeb and Dar make their way to the centre with the first over to be bowled by Sammy and the 1st ball is spanked to the boundary inducing a certain amount of false confidence. Slap shot over mid off for 6 and that takes it to 18 off the 1st over. Sylvester Joseph to bowl the next over. HK staying competitive but not putting themselves in a winning position, as yet and Dar has holed out to deep long off. Hk 1 for 29 off 2. Deonarine to bowl the next and Najeeb has hit him off one knee straight back over his head for 6 and then repeated the dose. The crowd has their hearts in their mouths and are rather subdued. Najeeb retires at 33 and Sharma comes to the wicket with Mahmood and Marlon Samuels bowling. HK need 35 off 9 balls and the crowd seem resigned to defeat but 26 off the last is not unreachable. Crandon to bowl the last and HK start with a 4. It is all too difficult and Rahul Sharma is caught at square leg brings Mark Fuzes to face 2 balls but it is all over red rover for HK. West Indies win by 18 runs.

And that is the end of the 1st days play. The big match tomorrow will be Pakistan India, the former having played brilliantly today and must be odds on to win the championship. There has been some interesting cricket without being spectacular but you don’t want the entrée to dominate the main course.

[Scorecard]

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