India and Pakistan primed for first day finale

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to ensure day one of the 2008 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes ends with a bang.

The Asian giants will bring the curtain down on the first day's action when they face off in a potentially crucial Bradman Group encounter.

The two teams have some of the most spirited fans at the Sixes and their showdown can be expected to crank up the atmosphere to fever pitch.

"Any game between India and Pakistan is to be savoured," said tournament director Mark Burns.

"But what makes this clash even more mouth-watering is that there is every chance a place in the Cup will be at stake.

"If either team has the opportunity to knock the other out of the Cup, then we really can expect some fireworks."

Eight teams will go for glory when the Sixes is staged at the Kowloon Cricket Club on 8-9 November.

Day one sees the teams divided into two groups of four for round robin action. But with only two teams from each group advancing to the Cup, every game will be crucial.

The Bradman Group is completed by powerful England and a big-hitting South African line-up - meaning India and Pakistan face some tough matches even before they take the field at 4:35pm for the day's finale.

England will be spearheaded by explosive Essex batsman Graham Napier, who hammered an astonishing 152 - including a world record 16 sixes - in a Twenty20 game against Sussex in June.

In addition, four players in the squad - captain Dimitri Mascarenhas, Darren Maddy, Tim Bresnan and Ed Joyce - have one day international experience.

Rising star Jonathan Trott, meanwhile, has played for England in Twenty20 matches.

South Africa, captained by former test wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile, will feature two players who have featured for the Proteas in one day internationals - Gulam Bodi and the fast-scoring Loots Bosman.

Other members of the South African squad have plenty of experience in domestic limited overs cricket.

"Both England and South Africa are sending teams loaded with specialists in the short form of the game," said Burns.

"They have won the tournament six times between them and will provide plenty of problems for India and Pakistan."

Earlier in the day, Hong Kong will open their Sixes campaign with a Sobers Group match against Australia at 9:50am.

The hosts will then have their dream match-up against the All-Stars - containing test greats Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Justin Langer, Stephen Fleming and Matthew Hoggard - at 11:20am.

Hong Kong's final match of the day will be at 2:20pm against the remaining team in the Sobers Group, defending champions Sri Lanka.

Sunday's play, featuring the Cup and Plate rounds, will commence at 8:30am.

Tickets for the 2008 Sixes - priced at $780 for adults and $450 for children - are on sale at the following locations:

First held in 1992, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is fully sanctioned by the International Cricket Council and is the sport's longest-running, best-established and most high-profile sixes tournament.

The Hong Kong Cricket Association's proceeds from the Sixes are ploughed directly back into cricket development in Hong Kong.

Tournament Website: www.hksixes.com

ENDS

Match 1 - 8:20AM Australia v Sri Lanka (Sobers)
Match 2 - 9:05AM Pakistan v South Africa (Bradman)
Match 3 - 9:50AM Hong Kong v Australia (Sobers)
Match 4 - 10:35AM England v India (Bradman)
Match 5 - 11:20AM Hong Kong v All Stars (Sobers)
Match 6 - 12:05PM South Africa v India (Bradman)
Match 7 - 12:50PM All Stars v Australia (Sobers)
Match 8 - 1:35PM England v Pakistan (Bradman)
Match 9 - 2:20PM Sri Lanka v Hong Kong (Sobers)
Match 10 - 3:05PM England v South Africa (Bradman)
Match 11 - 3:50PM All Stars v Sri Lanka (Sobers)
Match 12 - 4:35PM India v Pakistan (Bradman)
Close Day One - 5:20PM

Match 13 - 8:30AM B2 v S2 (Cup RR)
Match 14 - 9:15AM B1 v S1 (Cup RR)
Match 15 - 10:00AM B3 v S4 (Plate SF1)
Match 16 - 10:45AM B1 v S2 (Cup RR)
Match 17 - 11:30AM B2 v S1 (Cup RR)
Lunch Break - 12:15PM
Match 18 - 12:45PM B4 v S3 (Plate SF2)
Match 19 - 1:30PM S1 v S2 (Cup RR)
Match 20 - 2:15PM B1 v B2 (Cup RR)
Match 21 - 3:00PM Plate Final
Match 22 - 3:45PM Cup Final (Cup RR 1 v Cup RR2)
Prize Presentations - 5:00PM
Close Day Two - 5:30PM

Released on behalf of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes by Two Up Front.

For further information, please contact:

Niall Donnelly
Two Up Front
Tel: +852 2854 2136
Mob: +852 6052 3330
Fax: +852 3579 5955
Email: niall@tuf.com.hk