Dutch batters hammer Hong Kong

The powerful Netherlands batting line-up took no mercy as they hammered Hong Kong by 83 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the final group game of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 being played in the UAE.

It was a mixed start to the day for Hong Kong with Jamie Atkinson and Asif Khan returning from injury but Moner Ahmed cried off after succumbing to an ankle injury that had been affecting his mobility all tournament.

Netherlands skipper Peter Borren won the toss and had no hesitation to bat on another flat looking wicket, devoid of any grass. Max Tucker opened the bowling for Hong Kong and sent down two economical overs. However the two Dutch openers, the left-handed Stephen Myburgh and the right-handed Michael Swart, took a liking to Hong Kong's other offerings. Nizakat's first two overs went for 17 runs while Asif Khan's solitary over was pumped for 23, including four boundaries and a six. Clean hitting from the Dutchmen saw them belt 69 runs off four overs to leave them on 91-0 after eight overs.

Roy Lamsam made the first breakthrough for Hong Kong when he trapped Swart LBW for 38, scored off only 22 balls and including three 4s and three 6s. That breakthrough only hasten the scoring rate as 16 runs were swatted off the next over, bowled by Irfan Ahmed. A switch to Aizaz Khan had an immediate affect, as he bowled Myburg for 68 from 36 balls including five 4s and five 6s. Tom Cooper (42 off 25) was next to go when he was well caught in the deep by Nizakat Khan to give Lamsam his second wicket. Earlier in that same over Lamsam had watched in disbelief as three straight-forward chances were dropped in successive balls as the Dutchmen went for their shots.

Irfan got amongst the wickets when he had Alexei Kervezee (14) caught at backward point by substitute fielder Daljeet Singh, making amends for an earlier spill. There was time for one more wicket as Nizakat Khan bowled Wesley Barresi (2) with a quicker delivery. The Dutch finished on an imposing 5-201 from their 20 overs.

For Hong Kong, Roy Lamsam was the pick of the bowlers with 2-35 from his four over spell while Aizaz Khan picked up 1-32 from his four overs, coming back well after going for 14 runs from his first over.

Hong Kong needed a good start to have any chance of chasing down such an imposing total, however they lost both openers within the first two overs. Irfan Ahmed (3) was bowled by Swart and Waqas Barkat (1) was caught at mid-on after mis-timing an attempted pull.

Skipper Jamie Atkinson once again had to bear the burden of the run-chase and once again he delivered. Atkinson scored a brilliant 64 from 45 balls, including six 4s and four 6s - his third half-century of the tournament. Unfortunately he was unable to find a partner that was able to score at the same rate as him to give them any realistic opportunity of chasing down the Netherlands mammoth total. Nizakat Khan scored 10 from 20 balls while Roy Lamsam could only manage 6 from 17. When Atkinson (64) fell, Hong Kong's team score had only reached 84, by which stage the run-rate had climbed to nearly 20 runs per over. As the overs ran down, Babar Hayat (1) charged the spinner Cooper and was stumped and Courtney Kruger holed out in the deep for a well-struck 20 from 15 balls, including two 6s. Aizaz Khan (9*) and Kinchit Shah (1*) batted out remaining overs to see Hong Kong finish on 7-118.

Scorecard - Hong Kong v. Netherlands

The loss by 83 runs, the second biggest in runs at the tournament, left Hong Kong in sixth place in Group A at the conclusion of group play. They will now play in the 11th-14th play-off group with their next match against Uganda on 22nd March, once again back at Sharjah.