Bulletin - Air Niugini International Super Series 2012 Twenty20 (Day 1)

Hong Kong had mixed fortunes on Day 1 of the Air Niugini International Super Series 2012 Twenty20 competition. They lost narrowly to hosts PNG in a thrilling match that saw nearly 400 runs scored but bounced back to thrash Singapore by 64 runs in another high scoring match.

Match 1 - Hong Kong v. PNG Barramundis at Colts Ground

Conditions were overcast and blustery as hosts PNG won the toss and elected to bat. PNG opened their innings with Tony Ura and Lega Siaka while Aizaz Khan and Kinchit Shah took the new ball for Hong Kong. The innings got off to a quiet start with three runs coming off the first over. Ura opened his arms in the next over, striking the first of his three sixes as Kinchit was swatted for 9 runs. A quick switch saw Daljeet Singh introduced into the attack and the change paid immediate dividends as he claimed the wicket of Siaka to a catch by Mudassar Hussain.

Assad Vala joined Ura at the crease and the pair took the attack to Hong Kong bowlers. Runs were ticking along at over ten runs an over with Ura the more aggressive of the two. He brought up his half-century off 26 balls but was out shortly afterwards for 60 from the bowling of Haseeb Amjad. Ura's runs were scored off 33 balls and included six boundaries and three sixes. Vala upped his own tempo after Ura's departure and he brought up his half-century off 25 balls. Vala went on to score a brilliant century, finishing unbeaten on 108 from 55 balls, including eleven boundaries and six sixes.

Amjad grabbed his second wicket when he trapped Vani Vagi LBW for 7 but that was the last success for Hong Kong as PNG surged to 201-3 from their 20 overs. Amjad was the best of the Hong Kong bowlers, claiming 2-37 from his four overs.

Hong Kong' reply got off to an explosive start with Tanwir Afzal and Waqas Barkat putting on a partnership of 98 runs in less than 10 overs. Afzal smashed 53 from 26 balls and his innings included six fours and three sixes. Barkat, who had earlier hit Jason Kila for four successive boundaries, fell shortly afterwards when he attempted an audacious ramp shot but was trapped LBW for 39. Nizakat Khan struck two fours and a six in his innings of 27 while Haseeb Amjad and Mudassar Hussain both scored 19 runs but their efforts weren't enough to overcome the PNG total. Twenty runs were needed off the final over bowled by PNG U19 representative John Kopiani but Hong Kong could only manage 13.

For PNG, Norman Vanua and Tony Ura claimed a brace of wickets while Charles Amini (jnr) and John Kopiani were the other successful wicket-takers.

Score Summary: PNG 201-3 from 20 overs (Tony Ura 60, Asad Vala 108*) beat Hong Kong 194-7 (Tanwir Afzal 53, Waqas Barkat 39, Nizakat Khan 27) from 20 overs by 7 runs

Match 2 - Hong Kong v. Singapore at Amini Park

A quick turn around and transfer to the main ground at Amini Park, saw Hong Kong take on Singapore for their second T20 match of the day. Hong Kong won the toss and elected to bat first. Once again Tanwir Afzal and Waqas Barkat got the innings away to an explosive start with 33 runs coming from the first two overs. Afzal made good use of the stiff wind as he smote 41 runs off 16 balls, including three fours and three sixes, in an opening stand worth 55 runs. Kinchit Shah fell LBW for 9 but a 66-run stand between Barkat and Babar Hayat lifted the score to 145 before Hayat was caught and bowled by Abhiraj Singh for 30. An exhausted Barkat was next to fall when he was caught for 66 off the bowling of Kshitij Shinde. Barkat's innings was scored off 47 balls and included five boundaries.

In the last few overs of the innings, Nizakat Khan (22) was unluckily run out when a straight drive by Haseeb Amjad was deflected on to the non-strikers stumps by the bowler. Haseeb made amends by smashing 30 runs off the final over, bowled by Shinde, which included four sixes and a boundary, to lift Hong Kong to their best ever T20 total of 208-5 off their 20 overs.

Hong Kong sprung a surprise by opening their attack with 16-year-old Kinchit Shah bowling his off-spinners into a stiff wind. The ploy paid dividends as Shah was able to contain the Singaporean batting line and only conceded 25 runs from his 4 over spell. With runs proving hard to come by at one end, the Singapore batsmen attempted to attack from the other end. However Aditya Kanthan held his nerve and picked up two wickets to leave Singapore struggling at 2-50 after eight overs.

Nizakat Khan grabbed two wickets in his three over spell and Li Kai Ming picked up former Pakistani first-class cricketer Saad Junjua for a well struck 46, but the Singapore effort never reached the levels required to challenge Hong Kong's massive total. Munish Arora finished unbeaten on 34 as Singapore reached 144-5 from their 20 overs.

Hong Kong's 64-run victory was their first on PNG soil.

Score Summary: Hong Kong 208-5 from 20 overs (Waqas Barkat 66, Tanwir Afzal 41, Babar Hayat 30, Hasseb Amjad 32*) beat Singapore 144-5 from 20 overs (Saad Junjua 45, Munish Arora 34*) by 64 runs