Aussies go on run blitz in bid for Sixes title

	South Africa's Alan Kruger is bowled by Australia's John Hastings on the second day of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. © Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

Australia got their bid for a first-ever Hong Kong Cricket Sixes crown back on track with an awesome batting display against South Africa on Sunday (9 November).

After losing their opening Cup Group encounter against old enemies England, the Australians thrashed the South African bowlers around the ground to reach 113 for 3 - the highest total of the tournament so far.

They restricted their opponents to 96 for 2 for a 17-run victory that threw the Cup group wide open on the second day of the showpiece event at the Kowloon Cricket Club.

Allrounder John Hastings led the Australian run blitz with four sixes as he scored 35 retired.

Tournament rules state a player must retire on reaching 31 although he is allowed to return if one of the last pair of batsmen is out.

"The boys just wanted to get off to a good start - we did that and we ended up with the biggest total of the tournament," said Hastings. "You can't ask for much more than that."

Australia have never won the Sixes with their best effort being a final appearance against England in 1994.

South Africa had earlier beaten home team Hong Kong - the surprise team of the tournament - by 14 runs.

England confirmed their status as tournament favourites by following up their win over Australia with an 11-run victory over Hong Kong.

Captain Dimitri Mascarenhas was England's hero against Hong Kong, retiring and then returning to finish on 44 not out - the highest individual score of the tournament - as his team reached 75 for 4.

The top two teams in the Cup Group will contest the final later on Sunday.

Pakistan booked their spot in the Plate final with a three-run victory over Sri Lanka.

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is fully sanctioned by the International Cricket Council and is the sport's longest-running, best-established and most high-profile sixes tournament.

Players who have taken part over the past 16 years include Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist and Wasim Akram.

The tournament is organised and promoted by the Hong Kong Cricket Association's commercial arm, China Cricket International Limited.

The HKCA's proceeds from the Sixes will be ploughed directly back into cricket development in Hong Kong.

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