Australia beat Pakistan in thrilling final at Karp Group/PC Jeweller Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

DAY TWO UPDATE 6PM: Australia have beaten Pakistan in a sensational Cup Final at the Karp Group/PC Jeweller Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. Set an imposing target of 133 for victory off five 8-ball overs, after Ahmed Shehzad had scored a brilliant lone hand of 92 from 28 balls for Pakistan, Australia rode on power hitting from their captain David Warner (35*), Glen Maxwell (34) and Ryan Carters (31*) to storm to an improbable victory. Needing 46 for victory off the 8 balls of the match, Imran Nazir had a nightmare over that conceded 48 runs (including 12 wides and 6 no-balls) to gift Australia their first ever Hong Kong Cricket Sixes title.

There was double joy for Australia as Glen Maxwell also lifted the coveted Ben Hollioake Trophy as Player of the Tournament, pipping Ahmed Shehzad, who was named Player of the Final, and Sri Lanka's Indika de Saram for the prize.

Related links: Schedule, Results & Statistics

DAY ONE UPDATE 6:00PM: Persistent rain throughout the day forced organisers to revise the format of matches at the 2010 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. After completing the first match of the day after a 90 minute delay - the match seeing Hong Kong beat defending champions South Africa by 15 runs - further rain forced the players indoors and no play was possible until 3:15PM.

Organisers were forced to rethink their strategy and they decided upon a completely new format involving matches of 4 x 6-ball overs for each team. The result of the first match was voided. Four matches were possible in the remaining time available and although there was no further rain, the light was marginal at best. However, credit to all the teams that played, especially those in the final match of the day, played in near darkness at the end, who put on some sparkling entertainment for the small crowd that had braved the poor conditions.

In the four matches that were played Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 4 wickets; Pakistan beat India by 22 runs; Hong Kong beat England by five wickets and South Africa beat Australia by two wickets.

The remaining round robin matches will be completed on Sunday, with the start time brought forward to 8:10AM, before the semi-finals and final will decide the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes champion for 2010. The semi-finals will be played in the regular 5 x 6-ball overs format and the finals will be played in the 5 x 8-ball overs format.

A Hong Kong Development team will also meet China in an exhibition cricket match to be played at 12:10PM.

Sunday's weather forecast indicates a possibility of some early showers with improving conditions throughout the day.

UPDATE 3:00PM: Sri Lanka and New Zealand will face off in the first match of the revised schedule/format. Sri Lanka have won the toss and have asked New Zealand to bat. The result of the first match of the day between Hong Kong and South Africa has been deemed null and void.

UPDATE 2:45PM: Play will resume at 3:15PM. They will try to play four matches restricted to fours overs per side - those being Hong Kong v. England, India v. Pakistan, New Zealand v. Sri Lanka and Australia v. South Africa.

UPDATE 2:30PM HK Time: The rain has stopped and the covers have been removed. The groundsmen are working frantically to mop up the water on the wicket block. The Tournament Director has called all team captains and managers into a meeting to discuss a revised schedule and possible change to the competition format. Stay tuned.

UPDATE 1:15PM HK Time: Rain continues to fall at Kowloon Cricket Club. Tournament Director Glyn Davies has just announced that play cannot restart until it stops raining. The covers are on the wicket area but pools of water have started forming in low lying areas on the ground.

UPDATE 12PM HK Time: Hong Kong have beaten defending champions by 15 runs in the opening match of the competition but persistent rain has forced organisers to suspend further play.

Organisers at the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes have delayed the start of play until 10AM due to rain. A further review of the start time will be made at 9AM.