Hong Kong, November 11: Free-scoring Pakistan, defending champions India and match-hardened South Africa emerged as title favourites after a rousing first day's play at the 2006 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes.

The trio were the only unbeaten sides on a dramatic day which saw just the third hat-trick in the tournament's illustrious 12-year history, from West Indian captain Sylvester Joseph, and another masterly display with bat and ball by India's boundary blaster Robin Singh, last year's Player of the Final.

There was also joy for hosts Hong Kong who made it into the Cup competition with a four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, which knocked the fancied Lankans out of contention.

Australia, hoping for a morale-boosting win ahead of the forthcoming Ashes series against England, also failed to make it into the top six that will contest the Cup tomorrow.

England Test legend Darren Gough gave the world-famous tournament the thumbs up saying he had fulfilled a dream by playing in the Sixes at Kowloon Cricket Club.

The action was played out in front of a capacity crowd of more than 4,000, the first time the main Sixes tournament on Planet Cricket has been sold out on the first day.

Four-time winners Pakistan were in imperious form, twice scoring more than 100 runs on their way to the top of Pool 3 and claiming the overall number one ranking after the opening stage.

Pakistan, who last won the tournament in 2002, totalled 110 in their opening 39-run win over Hong Kong and then slammed 109 to down Sri Lanka by the same margin.

Skipper Imran Nazir, who launched the competition into orbit with a six off the first ball of the day, was in upbeat mood after the two triumphs.

"I hit four sixes in the opening match (against Hong Kong) but that is the nature of the competition. It is a small game, just 10 players, so you have to go for it (with big hits) from the start," said Nazir.

"We have got a good team of all-rounders here – that is the key. I am confident of winning the trophy. We can do it, definitely. There is no real pressure on us this year. We have had some bad luck here in the last two years but this year we can win."

Pakistan play India and England in the Bradman Group tomorrow.

India got the second phase off to a flying start with a narrow  three-run victory over England with Singh, a hero with the bat against Australia earlier in the day when he scored 30 runs in an over, bowling a fine final over.

The 43-year-old Singh, the current coach of Hong Kong, was pleased with his first day's work and tipped the team to successfully defend the trophy and pick up the winner's cheque of US$100,000.

"Yeah, a couple of nerve wracking matches today, against Australia and England," said Singh, who played 136 one-day internationals for India.

"The one against England was more stressful. Going into the last over (with England needing 23 to win) I thought it was 60-40 in our favour. I tried to bowl at the stumps, mix it up a bit and hope they missed.

"We played pretty poorly at the start (against Australia) and it was do or die really (when I was at the crease).

"That was the first game I have played since my last Sixes here (when he led India to victory) so I was happy with that innings. I would like to think we are in prime position to reach the final. We just want to keep winning. I think we have the personnel to win it."

South Africa moved confidently into the second phase with a seven-run win over New Zealand Kiwis and a 28-run success against England. They were joined in the Sobers Group by last year's runners up the West Indies and Hong Kong.

In the closest match of the day, the West Indies beat Australia by virtue of losing fewer wickets. Despite losing their second match to India they qualified among the top-six. In the second phase they dispatched Hong Kong by 13 runs in the final match today.

Hong Kong responded well after their opening loss to Pakistan with a thrilling four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, one of the most consistent teams in the Sixes in recent history with three straight semi-final appearances since 2003.

The local heroes restricted Sri Lanka to 73 thanks to fine bowling from Irfan Ahmed and Amjad Mahmood and then set about the total with gusto. Mark Fuzes, in his Sixes debut, ensured a famous triumph with a six over mid-wicket.

Hong Kong lost all five matches and Sixes coach Lal Jayasinghe praised the team for giving the home crowd something to cheer about this year.

"We wanted to win one of the games to upset the form and give something back to our supporters," he said. "It is a team effort – we batted with a plan, we bowled with a plan. It worked out."

The young Australian side were the chief casualty of the first day with narrow losses to the West Indies and India to finish bottom of Pool 1 and miss out on the Cup competition.

Despite a hat-trick from West Indies skipper Joseph, Australia posted a score of 91 all out. With 16 runs from their final three balls, the West Indies matched that tally and took the points having lost only one wicket.

Against India, the Australians were restricted to 63 and were then taken apart by Robin Singh who blasted John Hastings for 30 runs (6-4-6-4-4-6) in the penultimate over.

Australian player-coach Tim Nielsen said: "It is disappointing. We came here to win all the games and play well. It is a bit unfortunate that we came so close but did not go through."

England, facing elimination from the Cup competition after losing their opener to South Africa, raised their game to beat New Zealand Kiwis by five wickets, Tim Bresnan hitting a six in the final over.

Fast bowler Gough admitted it was a relief to make it through. "This is my first experience of Sixes here in Hong Kong – it is not easy is it? You are playing with trainers on, short runs up, short boundaries, you can easily blow a good over, go for 20-plus. It is not easy but it is enjoyable," said Gough, who has played 58 Tests for England.

"I really wanted to play the Hong Kong Sixes before I ended my cricketing career," he said.

DAY ONE RESULTS
FIRST STAGE

POOL ONE

Australia 91 all out lost to West Indies 91-1 having lost more wickets
Australia 63-2 lost to India 64-2 by three wickets
India 112-1 beat West Indies 95-1 by 17 runs

Standings: 1, India (4 points; 3.03 run rate); 2, West Indies (2 points; 3.1 run rate); 3, Australia (1 point, 2.566 run rate)

POOL TWO

South Africa 88-2 beat New Zealand Kiwis 81-3 by seven runs
South Africa 98-3 beat England 70-3 by 28 runs
New Zealand Kiwis 81-2 lost to England 85-1 by five wickets

Standings: 1, South Africa (4 points; 3.1 run rate); 2, England (2 points; 2.94 run rate); 3, New Zealand Kiwis (0 points; 2.7 run rate)

POOL THREE

Pakistan 110-0 beat Hong Kong 71-2 by 39 runs
Sri Lanka 73-2 lost to Hong Kong 76-2 by four wickets
Pakistan 109-3 beat Sri Lanka 70-2 by 39 runs

Standings: 1, Pakistan (4 points; 3.65 run rate); 2, Hong Kong (2 points; 2.67 run rate); 3, Sri Lanka (0 points; 2.38 run rate)

SECOND STAGE

Bradman Group: Pakistan, India, England

India 83-3 beat England 80-2 by three runs

Sobers Group: South Africa, West Indies, Hong Kong

West Indies 87-2 beat Hong Kong 74-2 by 13 runs

Cowdrey Group: Australia, New Zealand Kiwis, Sri Lanka

DAY TWO FIXTURES

8.45-9.30 New Zealand Kiwis v Sri Lanka

9.30-10.15 Pakistan v England

10.15-11.00 Australia v Sri Lanka

11.00-11.45 South Africa v Hong Kong

11.45-12.30 Australia v New Zealand Kiwis

12.30-1.15 Pakistan v India

1.30-2.15 South Africa v West Indies

2.15-3.00 Play-off for 5th/6th place

3.00-4.00 Play-off for 3rd/4th place

4.00-5.00 Final

The 2006 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes will take place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox's Road, Kowloon on November 11-12. For further inquiries please visit www.hksixes.com or call 2504-8103.

Provided by the Hong Kong Cricket Association. For further information, please contact Charles Lau or Novan Tang at (852) 2504-8101.