Hong Kong claim ACC title

Hong Kong beat defending champions UAE by three wickets to win the ACC Elite Trophy in a rain-shortened final at the Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur.

Hong Kong were set a target of 203 from 36 overs when rain interrupted their chase just after an over. They went after it with a furious pace but lost two wickets for 25 runs in the third over. However Najeeb Amar took charge of the reins and, along with James Atkinson, pushed the score along in quick time.

Hong Kong reached the 100-run mark in 17.5 overs and the two added 50 more in just 32 balls before Najeeb was trapped lbw by Khurram Khan; not before he got his century off 80 balls, an innings that included 12 fours and nine sixes. UAE captain Khurram used eight bowlers in his attempt to restrict Hong Kong, and but for Najeeb's innings, his side could have won the trophy yet again as Hong Kong's next highest score was Hussain Butt's 27.

But before he scored the match-winnings century, that pushed him to the top of Hong Kong's run-scoring list for the tournament, Najeeb picked for four wickets to restrict UAE to 243. Though they stumbled at the start, UAE were revived by Khurram and Saqib Ali, who added 144 for the fourth wicket. Nadeem Ahmed broke the partnership when he had Saqib caught for 56, and Najeeb removed Saqib in the final over of the innings.

As finalists, both Hong Kong and UAE have qualified for the 2010 edition of the Asia Cup.