Hong Kong complete WCL preparations with 3 wicket victory over PNG

Hong Kong has completed its preparations for the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3 tournament with a three wicket victory over PNG.

Batting first in cool and overcast conditions, PNG were dismissed for 167 from 42.5 overs with opening batsman Assad Vala top scoring for PNG with 60. A much higher total looked on the cards earlier in the day as PNG raced to 90-2 from 17 overs with Vala and Mahura Dai (28) scoring freely but a flurry of wickets, including the run-out of Vala from a direct hit by Mark Chapman, saw them slump to 119-6. Some sensible stroke-play by Chris Kent (20) and Rarua Dikana (19*) helped them to their final total of 167 all out. For Hong Kong, the bowling was steady with Aizaz Khan, Tanwir Afzal and Nadeem Ahmed picking up two wickets each. Hong Kong's fielding was good with Nizakat Khan and Adil Mehmood both claiming excellent catches off their own bowling.

Hong Kong's reply got off to a poor start when Loa Nou dismissed Roy Lamsam for 2. Courtney Kruger and Tabarak Dar moved the score on to 31 before a poor call saw Dar run-out for 8. Kruger was bowled two balls later and Hong Kong were suddenly teetering at 3-31. Mark Chapman (41) and Nizakat Khan (20) combined well but when Chapman was dismissed, Hong Kong still needed 40 runs for victory. However some solid batting by Waqas Barkat (17*) and Najeeb Amar (29*) took them to a deserved victory.

Rarua Dikana was the best of the PNG bowlers with 2-28 from six overs while Loa Nou looked menacing in claiming 1-16 from nine overs. Jason Kila also picked up 1-10 from four overs of off-spin.

Score summary: PNG XI 167 from 41.5 overs (A Vala 60, M Dai 28; Aizaz Khan 2-23, Tanwir Afzal 2-12, Nadeem Ahmed 2012) lost to Hong Kong XI 168-7 (M Chapman 41, Najeeb Amar 29*; R Dikana 2-28) from 37.5 overs by 3 wkts

The tournament proper starts on Saturday, 22nd January with three matches being played. Hong Kong will face the USA at Kowloon Cricket Club while Italy take on Denmark at Hong Kong Cricket Club. Oman and PNG face-off in the final match at Mission Road in Mong Kok. All matches start at 9:15AM and admission to the grounds is free.