HK beaming after warm-up win over tournament favourites

First blood to Hong Kong. A three-wicket trial game victory over Papua New Guinea, rated one of the favourites, will give Najeeb Amar and his men a boost ahead of the ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament, which begins tomorrow.

"It is better to win than to lose," said Hong Kong head coach Charlie Burke, pleased to see his young side starting to gel at the right moment. "Winning is a habit and this will definitely lift the boys up."

Indeed. Winning has been at a premium for Hong Kong in recent times at international level. And although yesterday's 45-over game at Kowloon Cricket Club was just a warm-up, you can't find fault with Burke's reasoning.

Several heart-warming performances will encourage the players, including a good comeback bowling display which dismissed PNG for 167, and this after the openers had threatened to take the game away from Hong Kong, as well a number of sound knocks by the batsmen.

Aizaz Khan found the right length to be the pick of the bowlers while spinners Nadeem Ahmed and skipper Najeeb bowled tightly as Hong Kong fought their way back after left-handed opener Assad Vala (60) had threatened to take the game away.

In the batting department, teenager Mark Chapman once again showed his elders how it is done as he led the run-chase with an accomplished 41. The left-hander looked in fine touch but was undone as he was just hitting his stride when he nicked one to keeper Jack Vare standing up to fast bowler Raymond Haoda.

Chapman, a huge success on the recent tour to Sri Lanka, found a good partner in Nizakat Khan, and they took Hong Kong from 55 for four to 102 before Chapman's dismissal. Khan (20) was out soon after.

But Najeeb and Waqas Barkat finished the job, taking the batting power play in the 36th over with 39 runs still needed. They finished it off quickly with Najeeb hitting a breezy 29 and Waqas making 17.

"We arrived late last night and the guys were still getting used to the conditions. But that is no excuse, Hong Kong outplayed us," PNG coach Andy Bichel said.