Hong Kong bring down tournament favourites

After their recent exploits to win a place in March's ICC World T20, Hong Kong opened their 50 Over Cricket World Cup Qualifying campaign with a history making victory over ODI rated team Scotland. In the spectacularly picturesque Queenstown Exhibition Centre Ground, Hong Kong successfully defended their total of 263 for 7 by a 17 run margin.

Hong Kong were put in on what seemed like a good wicket with maybe a few patches of live grass that Scotland were looking to exploit in the early morning chilly and overcast conditions. Hong Kong's start could not have been worse as player/coach, Mark Wright was run out when partner Irfan Ahmed slipped turning for a second leaving Wright stranded. That brought skipper Jamie Atkinson to the crease for his first tournament innings since his injury during the clash with Nepal at the World T20 Qualifiers. Atkinson and Irfan Ahmed consolidated and knocked the ball around as they looked to build a platform from which Hong Kong could build a charge later in the innings.

From the warm up matches it has been clear to see that consolidation of wickets in the first 15 overs or so is vital in a team's later quest for runs and both Atkinson and Ahmed realized this as they patiently went about their business of laying the foundations for Hong Kong. Ahmed himself being less attacking than we are normally used to as he took the responsibility to bat long and provide the core from which Hong Kong could build a score. The pair posted a 50 partnership before the introduction of Matt Machan saw Atkinson dismissed caught at long on as he miscued a low full toss from Machan. This brought Mark Chapman to the crease, who through his schooling in New Zealand is one of the players in the squad more familiar with the conditions. He quickly picked up where Atkinson had left off providing Ahmed with great support as Ahmed approached and passed his own 50 with a balance of mature controlled play mixed in with some well selected strikes for boundaries out of his more familiar repertoire. Chapman looked to pick his own tempo up, using his feet to the spinners and pushing the field with his running between the wickets. With the pair's partnership on to 62 and the Hong Kong total 128 Chapman fell edging one to gully as he looked to use his feet off Machan. This was the beginning of a difficult patch for Hong Kong as first Nizakat Khan was bowled first ball by Majid Haq and then Ahmed fell when he couldn't keep on top of one that edged to gully off Iain Wardlaw for a fine 75.

This left Hong Kong with two new batsmen, Babar Hayat and Tanwir Afzal, at the crease an over into the second powerplay. Hayat has played some important late guard roles for Hong Kong - none more than his Man of the match performance in Abu Dhabi to help Hong Kong secure victory over Papua New Guinea and gain a place in the T20 World Cup. Here he looked to be both patient and selective in his approach as he maintained the scoreboard ticking over as well as looking for boundaries, his partner Afzal, a more than accomplished batter in his own right, demonstrated his impressive and clean late innings striking power as he put Scotland's death bowling to the sword. Rob Taylor and Ian Wardlaw the main victims of his power as he hit two huge sixes and 3 fours in his 38 ball 42, with the dismissal of Hayat for a valuable 31, Hong Kong's push didn't fall away as Aizaz Khan hit a blistering 22 from just 8 balls including shot of the innings as he launched one for six over extra cover to leave Hong Kong setting Scotland 264 for victory.

In reply Scotland were put under pressure by some accurate Hong Kong bowling from Haseeb Amjad and Tanwir Afzal as they were reduced to 33 for 2 in the 8th over as first Amjad bowled skipper Coetzer and then had MacLeod caught by Chapman at gully. This brought Preston Mommsen to join Matt Machan at the crease and the pair quickly set about the rebuild with some fine strokes to add 33 in just under seven overs before Afzal removed the inform and dangerous Machan, lbw. The pressure increased in the next over as new batter, Freddie Coleman was induced into looking to go over mid-on but holed out to Wright off the bowling of Nadeem Ahmed.

The impressive Mommsen stayed solid at the other end producing some skillful touches and clean hitting to keep Scotland in the hunt, after being joined by left hander Rob Taylor the pair countered as Taylor hit 28 off 28 balls with 4 fours in a partnership of 50 with Mommsen before he like several Scotland batters fell trying to force the ball when the length on the wicket didn't suit it, caught at mid-off by skipper Atkinson for the first of his three catches off the bowling of Aizaz Khan.

With Mommsen continuing to go at a run a ball with his sweeping of the spinners and manipulation of the seamers, it was clear his wicket held the key to Scotland's hopes. Again his progress with briefly helped by Michael Leask for Nadeem Ahmed forced him to look off-side to score when he clearly favoured the on-side and he played on when cutting. Hong Kong then added more pressure as in the next over batting hero Irfan Ahmed removed Matt Cross brilliantly caught diving one handed by his opposite number Mark Ferguson behind the stumps, with the score on 149 for 7 in the 32 over. With Mommsen still continuing at the over end all Scotland hopes seemed to hang on him and someone staying around with him at the other end as he maintained his run a ball innings past 50 and beyond. With just the bowlers to support him Mommsen was joined by Safyaan Sharif but he became Nadeem Ahmed's third victim and Atkinson's second catch with the score moving ever closer at 172 for 8 in the 39th over.

Mommsen had used the second powerplay well getting across his stumps and working the sometimes too straight Hong Kong lines through the on-side for some vital boundaries including a profitable last over of the powerplay, after he had been joined by Haq. He used his experience to manipulate the ball and keep Mommsen on strike wherever he could as Scotland formed a partnership of 52 in just above 8 overs during which Mommsen secured a well-deserved 100. However just 3 balls later Haq miscued one from the returning Amjad and the catch was taken by Aizaz Khan to leave Hong Kong on the brink of victory. With Mommsen realising it was down to him to get the final runs he looked to push on and he and Wardlaw added 22 before with 9 balls left and 18 needed he miscued as he looked to go onside off Nadeem Ahmed and was well caught by Atkinson on the run at cover. The two halves of victory were clear to see as the Hong Kong team celebrated their momentous victory at the point Atkinson had took the final catch while in the background was the lone figure of Mommsen who's 118 run vigil had almost brought his team home.

Match Summary: Hong Kong 263-7 from 50 overs (Irfan Ahmed 75, Mark Chapman 36, Babar Hayat 31, Tanwir Afzal 42; Iain Wardlaw 3-57) beat Scotland 246 from 48.4 overs (Matt Machan 34, Preston Mommsen 118; Haseeb Amjad 3-53, Nadeem Ahmed 4-37) by 17 runs [Full Scorecard]

For Hong Kong such a victory over an ODI team with far more funding and the services of several full time professionals who ply their trade in the English County set up, is a result of much hard work on the players part and the development of a structure and system within their set up by former Head Coach Charlie Burke and his assistant Jawaid Iqbal that is now seeing the rewards it deserves both in UAE in November when they qualified for the first time for the T20 World Cup and now here in New Zealand for the 50 Over World Cup Qualifier under the guidance of interim Head Coach, Mark Wright.

Hong Kong now fly back to Christchurch to play Canada on Friday 17th January at the Mainpower Oval, Rangiora, start 10.30am local (5.30am HK time)