South Africa's Jacobs thrilled by Sixes success

South Africa finally broke their Hong Kong hoodoo, beating the hosts for the first time this weekend in the final of the 2009 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes to claim their third title since 1995 in the most dramatic fashion.

A six off the last ball by Farhaad Behardien gave South Africa a two-wicket win over a Hong Kong side that had beaten them in each of their previous two meetings in this year's competition.

"What a way for a final to finish!" said successful South African captain David Jacobs

"Throughout the tournament we've worked hard and I'm proud of the boys, we're a proud nation.

"We were confident but it's a final and as a professional cricketer you know finals are difficult and we saw that again today. But we managed to scrape through.

"We played them in the first game and got smashed and then we played them earlier today and they did us again.

"I think it's a great thing for Hong Kong even though they didn't win.

"They probably deserved to win because they were probably the best side but in finals it doesn't always work out but I think they were probably the best side in the tournament.

"It's so unpredictable this form of the game. It's only five overs and I said to the guys: 'Surely we can't lose three times to the same team!'

"It worked out, they're a good side and I'm happy for them but also sad for them for not making it today."

Hong Kong - whose earlier wins had come in the group phases of the competition - set the South Africans a target of 98 runs to win and, after scoring 21 runs off the first over, South Africa were in command.

But a fine over from Tanwir Afzal saw three wickets fall in quick succession to throw the outcome back into doubt.

The South Africans went on the attack with the bat again but a wicket for Mark Wright in the final over left the game finely balanced.

South Africa scored seven runs off the next four balls to leave Behardien needing to hit a six off the final ball and the 26-year-old responded in dramatic fashion, thumping Wright's delivery well over the boundary.

"I remember just thinking about how the atmosphere was unbelievable and I was soaking up the atmosphere, with everyone cheering for Hong Kong," said Behardien.

"I knew I had to hit a six and I was fortunate enough that it came off today.

"In this form of cricket you have to try to hit the ball as hard as you can and try and get sixes. That's about it, really. I think the team chasing always has a better chance of winning.

"Our captain got it right this time on the toss. We were able to chase and we put them under pressure with a few early wickets and we're very happy with the win."

Despite seeing his side lose their first game of the tournament, Hong Kong captain Najeeb Amar was proud of the performance of his players.

"It's disappointing," he said. "We lost the toss and I like to win the toss and chase.

"It was a huge decision for us, but we have shown the world how close we were in this competition.

"I'm really happy with how the boys played and I believe I'm the luckiest and happiest captain in the world. We have some great players who did well and I'm really proud.

"I've no words to thank my team mates because they've done a great job playing against all these Test playing nations."

There was a small consolation for the Hong Kong team as Irfan Ahmad won the Ben Hollioake Trophy, awarded to the tournament's leading player.

"It was great to play in this competition," said Irfan. "We did well and I've been looking forward to this for quite a while. Almost everything went well.

"I want to go into the Indian Premier League and this was a good chance for me to show what I can do if I'm given a bigger opportunity.

"This tournament has been very good for Hong Kong and I think our team did very well."

Final Standing Summary
1st South Africa Won Cup Final NRR=3.111
2nd Hong Kong Cup Finalists NRR=3.1
3rd Sri Lanka Cup RR Pts=2 NRR=2.935
4th England Cup RR Pts=0 NRR=2.972
5th New Zealand Won Plate Final NRR=3.121
6th Australia Plate Finalists NRR=2.547
7th Pakistan NRR=2.829
8th India NRR=2.65

Final Results

Cup

Round robin

Game 1 - South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 1 wicket.
Sri Lanka 85 for 4 (Locharachchi 34 retired). South Africa 88 for 5 (Bosman 44 not out).

Game 2 - Hong Kong beat England by 6 wickets
England 72 for 5. Hong Kong 75 for 0 (Irfan Ahmad 34 retired, Butt 31 not out).

Game 3 - South Africa beat England by 3 wickets
England 102 for 3 (Napier 36 retired). South Africa 103 for 3 (Jacobs 36 retired).

Game 4 - Hong Kong beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets
Sri Lanka 59 for 5. Hong Kong 62 for 0 (Irfan Ahmad 32 retired, Amar 26 not out).

Game 5 - Hong Kong beat South Africa by 4 wickets
South Africa 97 for 2 (Bailey 31 retired, Jacobs 34 retired). Hong Kong 100 for 2 (Butt 33 retired, Dar 29 not out).

Game 6 - Sri Lanka beat England by 2 wickets
England 80 for 4 (Hamilton-Brown 28 not out). Sri Lanka 81 for 4 (Kulathunga 29).

Final

South Africa beat Hong Kong by 2 wickets.
Hong Kong 97 for 4 (Dar 31 retired). South Africa 99 for 4 (Behardian 37 not out)

Plate

Semi-finals

Australia beat Pakistan by 6 wickets
Pakistan 77 for 3 (Shehzad 30, Iqbal 31 retired). Australia 80 for 0 (Maxwell 33 retired, Moller 33 retired).

New Zealand beat India by 6 wickets
India 77 for 4 (Pandey 34 not out). New Zealand 78 for 0 (Kitchen 34 retired, Stewart 31 retired).

Final

New Zealand beat Australia by 5 wickets
Australia 69 all out. New Zealand 70 for 1 (Stewart 31 not out).

- ENDS -

About the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes
In 2009, the Sixes has been selected as an ICC Centenary Celebration World Event and will feature a special ceremony to honour 100 years of the International Cricket Council and the Spirit of Cricket.

Six-a-side cricket is the quickest, most fun-filled version of the game - a feast of world-class players, thrilling matches and big hits.

First played in 1992, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is the longest-running and highest-profile Sixes tournament in the world. It offers two days of fast and furious action in a festival atmosphere - eight international teams, 45-minute clashes and global television coverage.

Stars who have taken part include Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Javed Miandad, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Adam Gilchrist, Wasim Akram, MS Dhoni and Sanath Jayasuriya.

The Sixes won the prestigious 2007 ICC Award for Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Award.

England recorded a record fifth Sixes title last year after a stunning final in which they finished tied with Australia on 121 runs. When Australian batsman Stephen O'Keefe was run out attempting a second run from the final delivery that would have given his team victory, England were confirmed victors as they had lost fewer wickets (three wickets to one).

For further information, please contact:
Damien McDowell
T: +852 2815-9876
M: +852 9409-5811
E: dmcdowell@brand-rapport.com

Erica Liu
T: +852 2815-9871
M: +852 9186-6877
E: eliu@brand-rapport.com