Ruwan's century puts Singapore on top

A sparkling unbeaten century from former Sri Lankan first class cricketer Chaminda Ruwan put Singapore on top after the first day's play of the 3-day ACC Premier League 2006 match against Hong Kong at the Kallang ground in Singapore.

This is quite a different Hong Kong team to the one that faced Singapore exactly one month ago in the quarter-finals of the ACC Trophy 2006. A number of key players were unavailble, including batting linchpin Rahul Sharma (business), opening bowler Afzaal Haider (injured), vice captain Tabarak Dar (not selected) and the Ahmed brothers, Irfan and Nadeem, who were unable to get visas from Pakistan in time for the match. Their places in the side have been taken by Roy Lamsam, Manoj Cheruparambil, James Atkinson and Sher Lama, while Jawaid Iqbal gets a run after handling 12th man duties throughout Hong Kong's successful ACC Trophy campaign.

Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field. The Hong Kong bowlers made the most of the early morning conditions (0930hrs start) by grabbing three wickets in the first ten overs to leave Singapore reeling at 30-3. Munish Arora joined Chaminda Ruwan at the crease and the two batsmen set about rebuilding the innnings. They shared a partnership of 75 before Arora was run out by Tim Smart, who had relinquished wicket-keeping duties to James Atkinson, with a slick piece of fielding. Another spate of wickets reduced Singapore to 115-6 and then 126-7 before Ruwan found some able support from the tail. The last three wickets contributed a further 98 runs to the Singapore cause, though it was Ruwan who contributed the bulk of the runs. His unbeaten 122 came off 177 balls and included eleven fours and six sixes. He was particularly harsh on left arm spinner Najeeb Amar, whose 17 overs came at a cost of 71 runs.

Singapore finished their innings on 224 after 70 overs. For Hong Kong, Hussain Butt grabbed three wickets for 48 runs and Ilyas Gul claimed three for 34. Roy Lamsam and Najeeb Amar were the other wickets takers.

Hong Kong's reply got off to a cautious start but Manoj Cheruprambil was the first to be dismissed when he fell LBW to Pramodh Raja with the score on 17. Shoib Razzak then grabbed a brace of wickets, including the prize scalp of Hussain Butt for just 7, as Hong Kong slipped to 43-3. Things went from bad to worse when skipper Tim Smart was dismissed after a two-hour and 81-ball vigil at the crease that yielded 19 runs. But an equally resolute innings from Ravi Sujanani (12 not out in 74 minutes, 69 balls), back in the Hong Kong team for the first time since the ACC Trophy 2004, and Ilyas Gul (3 not out) steered Hong Kong to 75 for 4 at the close. Hong Kong will be hoping ghe pair can continue their partnership long into the second day if they are to return to parity in this match.

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