Runs galore in the latest round of Saturday League action

There were runs galore in the last round of Saturday League matches played in 2005, with Rizwan Sattar, Chris O'Sullivan, Khalid Qureshi and Zahir Khan all hitting centuries whilst Alex Price struck back for the bowlers claiming seven wickets.

In a run fest at Sandy Bay, HKU scored a massive 337-3 against Crusaders with Khalid Qureshi smashing 124 and Zahir Zhan hitting an unbeaten 100. Martin Sabine chipped in another 82 as the Crusaders bowling attack was carted to all corners of the small ground. Needing to score at over 9.6 runs per over, Crusaders made a good effort with their chase before eventually being dismissed for 301 with Damian Kelleher scoring 83, and J Mohammad 70 as HKU ran out winners by 36 runs.

There was another three hundred run total reached by Nomads who thrashed Police by 213 runs at the Police Training School ground. Chris O'Sullivan scored 156 not out and Andrew Swan made 71 as Nomads raced to 300-4 off their 35 overs. In reply, the Police batsmen capitulated for only 77 with R Tucker claiming four wickets.

There was another big score and another big century at Po Kong Village Road as Rizwan Sattar smashed the league's highest individual score of 166 for Lamma to post 289-4 off their 35 overs against CCC. Jonathan Seifman also added an unbeaten 73. In reply, Alex Price decimated the CCC batting as he claimed the impressive figures of 7-40 as CCC were restricted to 175. For CCC Mukhtar Ahmed top scored with 53.

Closest match of the day was played at the Hong Kong Cricket Club where Gap Ramblers beat Centaurs by only 6 runs. Mark Winstanley scored 50 as Gap Ramblers scored 221-67 off their 35 overs. In reply, Centaurs were restricted to 215-8 with Keith Frith scoring 62.

At Kowloon Cricket Club, Tartars scored a six-wicket victory over MCC St George's. Batting first, MCC St George's 248-9 with Masqood hitting 73 and Shann 59 while Mustafa Ghulam claimed 5-56. Tartars reached their target for the loss of only four wickets with T R Kalyanaraman scoring an unbeaten 61 and Shkawat Ali 58.

LSW Warriors will go into the new year at the top of the Saturday League points table after scoring a 35 run victory over Kai Tak at Mission Road. Azhar Illahi top scored with 77 as the Warriors amassed 243-7 off their 35 overs. In reply, Matt Poole reached 51 as Kai Tak were restricted to 208-9 while Munir Dar claimed four wickets.

No details are available from the match between Hong Kong Under-19s and Mainlanders.

There were only two Sunday League matches played on 18th December 2005.

Millennium scored their second victory of the season as they beat Optimists by three wickets at Hong Kong Cricket Club. Mark Eames was denied a century when he was dismissed for 97 as Optimists were restricted to 225-8 from their 50 overs with Don Mohammed claiming four wickets. In reply, Ahmed Dar scored 72 as Millennium reached their target in the 39th over for the loss of seven wickets.

It was better news for Scorpions as they moved to the top of the Sunday League points table following a seven wicket thumping of Templars at Mission Road. A five wicket haul from Ryan Eagleson helped dismiss Templars for 138, with Daniel Fullgrabe top scoring with 59 for Templars. In reply, Scorpions had little trouble as they reached their target in the 35th over.

There was no match in the HKCA Women's League.