Hong Kong lose opening match of Sri Lanka tour by 3 runs

It was raining in the morning but pitch was covered well and outfield dried very quickly. Umpires have decided to start the game at 11.50 am. 50 overs game was reduced to 42 overs.

Hong Kong team captain Tabarak Dar won the toss and elected to bowl first on pitch with a bit grass on it and little moisture in. It helped Hong Kong bowlers to get break through on 21 in 4th over when Zafaran Ali took the wicket of Dinesh Chandimal Colts XI's skipper, caught by Ilyas Gull at square leg position. A very good catch by Gull.

At the other end opening batsman Yohan De Silva kept scoring. In next 12 overs he added 71 runs partnership with Thilina Masumulla. Finally Tabarak Dar who continued bowling from one end got Yohan De Silva out at his individual score of 53. Caught by Courtney Kruger (Sub). Yohan De Silva's 53 runs came out of 45 balls with 7 fours and 1 six. Ilyas Gull bowled two good overs from other end.

Then Tabarak Dar decided to bring Nadeem on bowling and it worked, and on his very second ball Nadeem got Dilan Chandra out LBW and then one ball dot and next ball another wicket for Nadeem. New batsman Udara Jayasundara caught by Ilyas Gull. Colts XI 4/93 in 18th over.

It boosted up the Hong Kong boys and they were looking more sharp on the field, it resulted a brilliant run out in 20th over, Thilana Masumulla were the victum who was looking to build up his inning slowely and steady. He scored 27 runs on 50 balls with 2 fours. Colts XI lost their 4 wickets so quickly between 17th to 20th over.

Helping the team Skipper Tabarak Dar in his consecutive 7 overs from one end taking 1 wicket for 38 runs, he replaced himself by Moner Dar who bowled his first 7 overs very tight, giving 33 runs for 2 wickets. But his 8th over went for 14 runs with 2 sixes by Charith Jayampathi. Ilyas Gull then took the revenge for his partner, getting him out while Nadeem took a brilliant catch.

Tabarak Dar brought himself back again in 39th over and took another wicket, next over Ilyas Gull finished it off by taking the last wicket. Brilliant stumping by Waqas Ahmed who was (Sub) wicket keeper.

(Both Team captains was agreed to play their substitutes for practice.)

Colts XI all out in 40 overs.

Jamie Atkinson and Roy Lamsam opening pair started well but first wicket fell on 27 runs in 9th over when Jamie Atkinson got out LBW by Pradeep on 16, with 2 fours. He faced 32 balls. Zain Abbas struggled, faced 12 balls to add 1 run in his account and bowled out in 12th over. Hong Kong 2/36.

Roy Lamsam added 21 runs on 34 balls from his account with 2 fours, caught & bowled by Dias in 15th over. Butt Hussain who is looking in great form, playing with a lot responsibility and showing a great temperament. Stood firmly at one end and kept stealing the run.

Courtney Kruger, Irfan Ahmed, Shkawat Ali chipped in 45 runs in the total and Hong Kong were 6/89 in 26th over.

Moner Dar came in added 16 runs on 16 balls then got out LBW on Dias bowling.

Skipper Tabarak Dar and Butt Hussain (51*/63 ball) were the batsmen at the creased and they were comfortably bringing the Hong Kong to win but Umpires called of the game due to bad light after 33 overs at 5.45 pm.

Using D/L method umpires have announced the results.

Colts XI won the match by 3 runs.