Hong Kong outclassed in third Chennai match

Hong Kong found out how difficult their task will be in the upcoming ACC Trophy 2006 tournament when they were outclassed by First Division Chemplast Sanmar in a disappointing third match of their tour of Chennai.

Rain once again delayed the start of the game and reduced the contest to a 45-overs-per-side affair. When play finally got underway, Hong Kong batted first but lost opener Irfan Ahmed in the early exchanges. Tim Smart and Tabarak Dar then combined in a 40 run partnership for the second wicket before Tabark's dismissal triggered yet another middle-order collapse that saw six wickets fall in quick succession, including the run outs of Butt Hussain and Najeeb Amar. Shkawat Ali and Amjid Mahmood restored a little respectability to the innings with a 51 run partnership for the 8th wicket but by the end of the 45 overs, Hong Kong had only mustered a score of 132 for nine. For the Chemplast team, Kahshik and Ashwin claimed two wickets each whilst Syed took 1-10 from nine tight overs.

In reply, the Chemplast batters had little trouble against the Hong Kong attack as they raced to 134-2 in only 24 overs with J Syed finishing unbeaten on 54. Afzaal Haider and Nadeem Ahmed were the only successful bowlers for Hong Kong, though Haider's four overs came at a cost of thirty-seven runs.

Hong Kong 132-9 from 45 overs (Tim Smart 26, Shkawat Ali 22, Amjid Mahmood 26; J Kahshik 2-25, R Ashwin 2-8) lost to Chemplast Sanmar XI 134-2 from 24 overs (Ajay Kadua 20, M P Srivatsan 40, J Syed not out 54) by 8 wkts

[Full Scorecard]