Hong Kong thumped by 158 runs in ACC Premier League opener

A poor performance by Hong Kong on the third day of their opening ACC Premier League 2006 match saw them slump to a 158 run loss to Singapore at the Kallang Ground.

Hong Kong needed to grab quick wickets in the morning session and then bat like champions in the afternoon to win this match. Sadly, neither eventuated and rather than chasing victory, they were left battling to save the match. Even that proved to be beyond them and the size of the eventual defeat showed just how far behind Hong Kong was in the game.

The Hong Kong bowlers failed to make any headway in the morning session - the only success coming from the run-out of overnight batsman Shoib Abdul Razzak . His partner, Christopher Janik went on to score an accomplished 65 not out and together with Pramodh Raja (45*) put on an unbroken partnership of 102 runs that effectively took the match out of reach for Hong Kong. Singapore eventually closed their innings on 241 for six wickets declared. Jawaid Iqbal finished with the best figures for Hong Kong with 3-54.

Set 275 for victory, Hong Kong struggled from the outset. Opener Manoj Cheruparambil once again failed to survive the opening salvoes and even the promotion up the order of James Atkinson, who had batted well in the first innings, failed to sure up the innings. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals as the rest of the Hong Kong batsmen failed to apply themselves to the situation and to the conditions. Only skipper Tim Smart (21) and Hussain Butt (30) produced scores of any substance, though their efforts were too little in the overall scope of things. Hong Kong was eventually dismissed in the 49th over for 116.

The woefulness of the batting effort can be seen from the figures - Hussain Butt's 30 was the highest score by any Hong Kong batsman in the entire match while Hong Kong's most fruitful partnership in the second innings was a mere 24 runs. Having said that, it should be remembered that 9 of the 14 players from the successful ACC Trophy squad were unavailable for this match. Still, the result highlights the gulf in talent between Hong Kong's best players and the rest.

Hong Kong's disappointing performance should take nothing away from a disciplined display by the well-drilled Singapore team. They outplayed Hong Kong in every aspect of the game and thoroughly deserved their victory.

Chaminda Ruwan deservedly won the Man of the Match award for his unbeaten century in the first innings that laid the foundation from which Singapore could push for victory.

The Hong Kong coaching staff and selectors must now be scratching their heads for solutions and they must now face, with some trepidation, a busy schedule of matches against the top ranked teams in the ACC Premier League 2006.

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