Hong Kong stranded on 104-5 chasing 139 for victory

Hong Kong finished agonisingly short of their victory target when rain and bad light brought the ACC Premier League 2006 match against Malaysia to a premature end at the Selangor Turf Club in Kuala Lumpur.

Day Three Summary

Malaysia did just enough with the bat on the third day to secure a draw against Hong Kong in their ACC Premier League match-up in Kuala Lumpur. Resuming on their overnight score of 119-3, Malaysia batted through the first hour's play without further loss to be handily placed at 175-3. But Hong Kong made inroads into the batting line-up in the second hour and Malaysia went to lunch at 254-8. Shortly afterwards, Hong Kong captured the last two wickets as Malaysia finished on 270.

For Malaysia, Thushara Kodikara hit an important 91 while S Muthuraman hit 46. Bowling honours for Hong Kong went to Najeeb Amar (3 for 53) and Amjid Mahmood (3 for 41) while Afzaal Haider grabbed 2 for 46 to complete a ten wicket haul for the match.

Set 139 for an outright victory from a maximum of 70 overs, Hong Kong got off to a disastrous as Tim Smart and Tabarak Dar were dismissed in Kodiakara's opening over to leave them reeling at 2-1. Zain Abbas was dismissed shortly afterwards, at which stage first innings centurion Irfan Ahmed joined Nasir Hameed at the crease. The two batsmen combined in a solid partnership that pushed Hong Kong's total towards 100.

At 92-3, light rain started to fall and the light conditions deteriorated as it had done in the first two day's play. As Hong Kong tried to up the run-rate, they lost the wickets of Irfan Ahmed (33) and Najeeb Amar.

At 6:20PM play was suspended by umpires Ranmore Martinesz and Sek Hon with Hong Kong on 104-5, still 35 runs short of their target. Nasir Hameed was unbeaten on 49 at the close.

Irfan Ahmed was named Man of the Match following his impressive batting in the match.

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