Captain comes of age as Hong Kong chase down Bermuda

Hong Kong captain Jamie Atkinson - the youngest skipper at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier being played in the UAE - played arguably the best innings of his international career as Hong Kong chased down a daunting total against Bermuda today in Dubai. Coming into bat at the end of the first over after the loss of an early wicket, Atkinson blasted a brilliant 87 not out off 55 balls to lift Hong Kong to victory by 8 wickets with 15 balls remaining.

Earlier in the day, Bermuda won the toss and elected to bat at the ICC GCA Number 2 ground in Dubai. Conditions were again perfect for cricket with temperatures about 28˚C with a light breeze blowing across the ground.

The Bermudan openers Lionel Cann and Dion Stovell got their innings off to a flying start as they peppered the boundary with fours in the initial Powerplay overs. Moner Ahmed grab the first wicket for Hong Kong as he bowled Cann for 14 in the fourth over with the score on 33. Skipper David Hemp maintained the early flow of runs and Bermuda's first 50 came up at the end of the sixth over. Nizakat Khan grabbed the next wicket when he trapped Stovell LBW for 29 off 15 balls, including 5 boundaries. Steven Outerbridge (14) was bowled by Asif Khan with the score on 88 before Hemp and Tucker put together a stand of 32 runs in 3.2 overs. The wicket of Hemp (43), caught in the deep by substitute fielder Max Tucker off the bowling of Moner Ahmed, led to an acceleration in the scoring rate as Kamau Leverock (18 off 7 balls) and Janeiro Tucker (31* off 19 balls) plunged 40 runs off the last 16 balls of the innings, including 22 off one over by Moner Ahmed as Bermuda finished on 5-161 from their 20 overs.

For Hong Kong, Moner Ahmed picked up 2-33 from 3 overs while Nizakat Khan claimed 1-15 from his four overs. Irfan Ahmed (1-34) and Asif Khan (1-40) were the only other wicket-takers for Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's reply got off to a poor start with Babar Hayat failing to the last ball of the first over. Jamie Atkinson joined Irfan Ahmed at the crease and together the pair combined for a partnership worth 113 runs over twelve overs. While Jamie cut and pulled the Bermudan bowlers to the fence with disdain, Irfan preferred to bludgeon the ball down the ground at regular intervals. Irfan eventually fell for a superb 50 off 37 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes while Jamie Atkinson stood firm to see his side home by 8 wickets in 17.3 overs.

Atkinson's fine 87 not out came off 55 balls and featured 13 fours and 2 sweetly struck sixes. Courtney Kruger finished unbeaten on 9.

Hong Kong coach Charlie Burke said of Jamie's innings: "It was as good as any innings I have seen".

"Chasing down 160 in a T20 is not easy and I was very pleased with how we went about the run chase. Jamie and Irfan complemented each other and once they got in, they made sure they finished the job. It was a very good batting performance, especially Jamie's", he added.

Scorecard: Hong Kong v. Bermuda

Hong Kong's victory sets them up nicely for the next match against Canada to be played at the ICC GCA number one ground, on 15th March 2012.