Tourists re-write the Ichor International & Habitat Property Hong Kong Invitational Cricket Festival record books!

It was all change in the winners' enclosure of this year's Ichor International & Habitat Property Hong Kong Invitational Cricket Festival 2006 as imports accounted for half of the teams to appear in the finals of this year's Divisions, triumphing in three out of five of the competitions.

In the five-year history of the Festival, CBB SCs (Australia) became the first ever overseas side to be crowned the Hong Kong Invitational Cricket Festival Champions after their victory over Lamma CC (Hong Kong) in a supremely tense Cup final, following an unseasonal deluge of rain on the afternoon of finals day.

Thirty-two teams competed at this year's tournament, and touring sides for the first time really got amongst the silverware as newcomers Beijing CC (China) took the Bowl after defeating the Phuket Cricket Union (Thailand) in the Final, and Tokyo Instrumentalists (Japan) lifted the Spoon trophy.

Hong Kong Social League regulars Aryans, making their first appearance at the Festival, were overjoyed to win the Plate Division after triumphing over another useful side making their first appearance in Hong Kong, Fish Head (Bahrain).

Lamma CC (Hong Kong) women ran out winners over last year's Women's Division Champions, Hong Kong Cricket Club.

On the eve of the most-hyped Ashes series in memory, this year's Festival featured combative representatives from both sides: Terry Alderman (ex-Australia) and Jack Richards (ex-England) who demonstrated their passion for the game and their countries on and off the pitch. At the Festival Gala Dinner we were treated to their knowledgeable yet witty banter about the up-coming Ashes series in an unforgettably entertaining verbal joust.

The previous night, The Cavern in the heart of Lan Kwai Fong was the superb venue for the Festival Players' Party, where enormous quantities of Fosters were quaffed and, with the excellent cover band and awesome atmosphere, combined to create an incredible evening.

It was great to see a few new sides enter the Women's Division this year, as Little Sai Wan and HK Dragons made their debut. Natasha Miles shone for HKCC, but they were unable to defend their crown as Hong Kong Captain Neisha Pratt steered Lamma CC to victory in the final. Keenu Gill of Little Sai Wan however was named Women's Player of the Tournament for her all round performance.

The men's competitions had a slightly altered format this year as teams were ranked 1-28 after the preliminary round matches with the lowest ranked sides automatically entering the Spoon (25-28) and Bowl Divisions (17-24) with the top 16 entering a repechage play-off to determine which teams entered the Cup and Plate Divisions. The format made run rates all important with every ball being potentially crucial, but ensuring that the best performing teams rose to the top and vice versa.

So it was that the previously unheard of Brickbats of Hong Kong, featuring the might of a Scottish golfer in their line up, somehow managed to earn a deserved place in the Spoon Final versus the much more fancied Tokyo Instrumentalists. It was not to be a fairy tale however for the Brickbats, organised by Ben Ridgeon, as they lost to the Tokyo tourists, thereby placing runners up in their first ever tournament, with Chris Sawyer named Player of the Final for his efforts for the Tokyo. Sean O'Neil of Brickbats was awarded Player of the Spoon Division.

It was an all-tourist affair in the Bowl final between Beijing CC, competing in their second ever tournament after featuring in Shanghai earlier this year, and the Phuket Cricket Union on their first overseas tour. It's actually interesting to note that this year's Festival numbered teams from several parts of China: Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, Macau and of course Hong Kong, perhaps the first time this has ever happened? Anyway, Beijing managed to overcome the spirited PCU outfit by 20 runs to take the title and their first ever silverware, with Hugo Davidson named Player of the Final.

It's a testament to the tenacity of the players and organisers that the torrent of rain which dampened the ground didn't do the same for the determination of the teams on the field and under the marquees. The Delaney's bar certainly did a brisk trade whilst the heavens opened. Nevertheless, after a period of reflection / gnashing of teeth the organisers managed to get the tournament on track again and the final matches were played without a hitch.

In fact the excellent officiating throughout the tournament by the team of umpires and scorers was again a big feature of the Festival and the Orgainsing Committee are very grateful to all who those who volunteered their time and efforts and helped make the running of the schedule so smooth.

Aryans are a team known well in the HKCA Social League and the Summer Eights but in their first appearance at the Festival they put in an outstanding performance to lift the Plate Trophy after defeating the fancied Fish Head from Bahrain in the final who had been playing consistently well throughout the tournament on their first trip to Hong Kong. Brett from Aryans starred as he was named Player of the Plate Final.

The Cup final was a tense affair as both Lamma CC and CBBs SC had never made it this far in the tournament. Earlier Lamma had defeated tournament favourites and finalists for the last three years, Little Sai Wan in the semis, and CBBs had seen off a strong challenge from local side Centaurs to make the final. The first innings was played on Pitch 2 with Lamma making 66 runs in their 30 balls after some very tidy CBB bowling. Due to the rain, the second innings was played on Pitch 1 and nerves were aflutter as the match went right down to the wire with the crowd baying every run. Lamma however just could not hold on as CBB scored a run off the last ball to take the match and the title of Ichor International & Habitat Property Hong Kong Invitational Cricket Festival 2006 Cup Champions for the first time.

A pitch invasion ensued along with an impromptu slammer session as the CBBs celebrated into the night, as did most of the teams whether they'd gained silverware or not such is the nature of the Festival!

Thirty-two teams from 13 countries competed over three days in 75 matches in five Divisions and enjoyed two superb social functions plus all the festivities at the ground. It was a fantastic Festival and once again demonstrated 'friendship through cricket' here in Hong Kong. See you all again for more of the same in 2007!

All of the match results are now posted on the tournament website www.hkicf.com

Finals Results & Top Performers

• Cup Champions CBB SCs (Australia)
• Cup Runners-up Lamma CC (Hong Kong)
• Women's Cup Champions Lamma CC (Hong Kong)
• Women's Cup Runners-up HKCC (Hong Kong)
• Plate Champions Aryans (Hong Kong)
• Plate Runners-up Fish Head (Bahrain)
• Bowl Winners Beijing CC (China)
• Bowl Runners-up Phuket Cricket Union (Thailand)
• Spoon Champions Tokyo Instrumentalists (Japan)
• Spoon Runners-up Brickbats (Hong Kong)
• Player of the Tournament (Women) Keenu Gill (LSW CC)
• Player of the Tournament (Open) Toby White (Lamma CC)
• Player of the Tournament (Spoon) Sean O'Neil (Brickbats)
• Player of the Final (Women) Neisha Pratt (Lamma CC)
• Player of the Final (Cup) Sourav Chatterjee (CBB SCs)
• Player of the Final (Plate) Brett (Aryans)
• Player of the Final (Bowl) Hugo Davidson (Beijing/Formosa)
• Player of the Final (Spoon) Chris Sawyer (Tokyo)

2006 Festival Facts

• Competing Teams: 32
• Men's Teams: 28
• Women's Teams: 4
• Overseas Teams: 13
• Local Teams: 19
• Matches played: 75
• Balls lost: 47
• Venue: PKVR 1 & 2, Kowloon
• Dates: 17-19 November 2006
• Tournament Director: Brad Tarr
• Event Director: Mark Burns
• Tournament Referee: Ian "Reds" Liddell
• Overseas Team Coordinator: Mike 'Cat' Maher (ACST Chairman)
• Head of Scorers Panel: Kim Leung
• ACST Rep & Webmaster: Kevin Bishop
• Umpires & Scorers: John Freeman, Peter Counsell, Richard Trott, Anoop Gidwani, Glyn Davies, Kay Dayal, Kim Burns, Kevin Bishop, Graeme Stillwell, Lou Coulthard, Animesh Kulkarni, Kevin McNamara, Carl Fredrik
• Volunteers: Louise Choi, Ishan, Ron Brierly, Barb McHerron, Jon Hyman, Daniel Way, Toby White, John Gaffney
• Star Players: Terry Alderman (Australia), Jack Richards (England), Kevin Wright (Australia)
• Organised by: Lamma CC
• Sanctioned by: HKCA
• Promoted by: Asian Cricket Sixes Tour www.cricketsixes.com

Competing Teams:

Men's Open Competition

• Formosa CC - Taiwan
• Phuket Cricket Union - Thailand
• Beijing CC - China
• Corner Tigers - Pakistan
• Fish Head - Bahrain
• Shanghai Dragons - China
• Macau Scrubbers - Macau
• Bounty Buccaneers - Malaysia
• Tokyo Instrumentalists - Japan
• Manila Nomads - Philippines
• CBB MEPs - Holland
• CBB SCs - Australia
• Vyrus's CBBs - Switzerland
• Team Gooch - Hong Kong
• Brickbats - Hong Kong
• Lamma - Hong Kong
• Laguna Gully - Hong Kong
• KCC - Hong Kong
• HKCC Taverners - Hong Kong
• Nanda Indus 1 - Hong Kong
• Subcont CC - Hong Kong
• Centaurs - Hong Kong
• Toofan - Hong Kong
• Lamma Wannabees - Hong Kong
• Little Sai Wan - Hong Kong
• Nanda Indus 2 - Hong Kong
• SCC Kingfishers - Hong Kong
• Aryans - Hong Kong

Women's Division

• Lamma CC - Hong Kong
• HKCC - Hong Kong
• Shanghai Pearls - China
• HK Dragons - Hong Kong