Hong Kong Sixes cricket: Sri Lanka's opponents, Windies & S.Africa (26 Sep 1997)

Saturday 27, September 1997

Hong Kong Sixes cricket: Sri Lanka's opponents, Windies & S.Africa

By Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka will play in the `Red Group' with the West Indies and the top seeds South Africa in the 5th annual Cathay Pacific Wheelock Natwest Hong Kong International Cricket `Sixes' tournament to be worked off in Hong Kong today and tomorrow.

Sri Lanka led by Romesh Kaluwitharana, has been ranked No.7, ahead of Bangladesh and the hosts Hong Kong. The `Blue Group' comprises Australia, India and Bangladesh while England, Pakistan and Hong Kong have been drawn in the `Green Group'.

The 1997 Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes tournament is promoted by Cricket World International, and presented by the Hong Kong Cricket Association. Australia, Bangladesh, England, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies will clash for honours and the winners will receive HK $ 247,500.

After the preliminary round matches on Saturday, where the nine teams will play under three groups, the top two teams from each group will play in the second round which will have two groups - the Bradman and Sobers, named after two of the great cricketers. There positions will be determined after a second round of seeding.

Meanwhile, the teams which finish third in each group will be drawn into the Cowdrey Group. The winner of Bradman group and winner of Sobers group will meet in the Cup Final while the 2nd placed teams in each group clash in the Plate Final. The winner of the Cowdrey Group comprising 3rd placed teams and share 5th positions, will be awarded Bowl.

South Africa has been seeded No. 1 while World champions are Sri Lanka rated No. 7 as they are fielding a second string team at the draw, which took place at the Excelsior Hotel in Hong Kong. The seedings for the draw was determined on the rankings issued by the Policy Committee of the popular tournament in the former British colony.

Australia, who are fielding a strong side, are the bottom seeds with Pakistani as No. 3. Pakistan will be led by their regular Test captain Wasim Akram and are packed with talent. New Zealand takes the 4th place in the rankings and the 5th and 6th places went to West Indies and India respectively. England takes the 8th place. Only Bangladesh and Hong Kong have been rated behind Sri Lanka.

The first day's schedule will start in the morning with a mini cricket tournament followed by two limited over games - first between two Hong Kong Junior sides (red and gold) and another between Hong Kong-China team and Japan. Before the second round tournament matches start tomorrow morning, Hong Kong Under-19 will meet Australian Schools in an exhibition limited over game.

The Prizes: Cup Winner $247,500, Cup Runner Up $123,750, Plate Winner $74,250, Plate Runner Up $57,250, 3rd Place Sobers $41,250, 3rd Place Bradman $41,250, Bowl Winner $33,000, Cowdrey 2nd place $24,750, Cowdrey 3rd place $16,500.

Preliminary round match schedule for this afternoon: (in HK Standard time): 12.15 p.m. Australia v Bangladesh, 1.00 p.m West Indies v South Africa, 1.45 p.m. England v Hong Kong, 2.30 p.m. Sri Lanka v South Africa, 3.15 p.m. India v Bangladesh, 4.00 p.m. Pakistan v Hong Kong, 4.45 p.m. West Indies v Sri Lanka, 5.30p.m. Australia v India, 6.15 p.m. England v Pakistan.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)