Brew revives Hong Kong China hopes

SHARJAH: A patient innings from veteran skipper Stewart Brew retrieved Hong Kong-China from a disastrous position batting first in its crucial Group A of the Asian Cricket Council Trophy match against Malaysia in Sharjah.

Brew's 54 from 96 balls helped consolidate a Hong Kong-China innings which had earlier crumbled from a comfortable 53-0 to 101 for six enabling them to reach 209 all out in the 50th over. Hong Kong-China had won the toss and elected to bat.

An 84 run partnership with Alex French was the saviour for Hong Kong-China giving it the opportunity to set the Malaysians some sort of target on a placid Sharjah track.

It was a partnership which could prove vital to the entire context of Group A with the winner of this match likely to finish as Group leaders, therefore avoiding the probable Group B victor, the United Arab Emirates, in the semi-finals.

The Hong Kong-China innings could be characterised as one of distinct phases. Opener Salim Malik led an early assault on the Malaysian bowling in which 15 year-old medium pacer S Vishnuswaran was caned for 33 from his first five overs.

He was no less respectful to Malaysian captain Suresh Navaratnam hitting his only six from Navaratnam's first over, the second of the innings.

Indeed of the Hong Kong China first wicket stand of 53, fellow opener Mark Eames, contributed just ten before losing his wicket.

Malik would notch his 50 off just 38 balls and provided 55 of the 84 Hong Kong China runs when he was out caught and bowled.

His departure was the start of a mini-collapse before Brew and French halted the slide. French played a good supporting role compiling 34 before losing his wicket in the 47th over bowled when hitting out.

Manuswamy Muniandy (3-32) was the key wicket taker for Malaysia while Navaratnam picked up 2-43. Vishnuswaran recovered somewhat from the Malik onslaught taking 1-23 in his second spell.

At the same time as the Hong Kong-China fightback, Nepal was resurrecting its innings in its match against UAE at Dubai Cricket Council Ground No 1.

The UAE's Asim Saeed had gutted the Nepalese top order taking three of the first four wickets leaving Nepal groggy at 6-79.