Wanderers triumphant in Sunday Cup final

HKCC Wanderers completed their fairy-tale return to Hong Kong cricket with an emphatic 175-run victory over Pakistan Association in the 2006-07 HKCA Sunday Cup final played at Kowloon Cricket Club on 6th May 2007.

Hong Kong Cricket Association

07-May-2007

Michael Jamieson receives the Sunday Cup from Terry Smith © HKCA

HKCC Wanderers completed their fairy-tale return to Hong Kong cricket with an emphatic 189-run victory over Pakistan Association in the 2006-07 HKCA Sunday Cup final played at Kowloon Cricket Club on 6th May 2007. In other matches, Crusaders and Laguna Gully advanced to the Saturday Cup (Twenty20 format) final after too tight semi-final games, while the KCC Maidens advanced to the Women's Cup final after scoring a victory over the HKCC Willow Wielders.

2006-07 HKCA Saturday Cup (Twenty20 Format)

Early morning rain nearly forced the abandonment of games in the two Saturday Cup semi-finals on 5th May 2007, but conditions improved in the early afternoon and the late start of the games meant that both matches were played to a conclusion.

At Kowloon Cricket Club, Crusaders booked their place in the Saturday Cup final when the beat the previously undefeated LSW Warriors by 9 runs. The match was played on the grass strip that had remained hard and dry despite the morning's rain. Crusaders had first use of the wicket and they were soon in early trouble, with the Warrirors' bowlers extracting plenty of seam movement. Crusaders had slumped to 31-4 after seven overs before a partnership between Manoj Cheruparambil (68) and Ray Brewster (44) steadied things for Crusaders. Brewster's knock was a masterclass in stroke play, showing the 56-year-old veteran has lost none of abilities, despite his advancing years. Manoj was dismissed in the final over but his efforts ensured that Crusaders had a fighting total of 143-6 to defend.

The LSW Warriors reply got off to a cautious start but a couple of early run-outs, including danger-man Azahar Illahi, left them on the back-foot. Tight bowling by the Crusaders meant that boundaries were proving hard to come by and the required run-rate crept higher as the overs ticked by. Sajjad Nasir's dismissal brought Munir Dar to the crease and immediately the tempo of the game changed. Munir blasted a rapid 44, including a stunning reverse sweep for six, but he was dismissed when Travis Pittman clung on to a steepling catch at long-on off the bowling of Damian Kelleher. Maurice Ling tried his best to up the ante but his innings was cut short by a swift stumping by Brewster. The final push proved too much for the Warrior's lower-order batsmen and their run-chase finished 10 runs short on 134-8. Brewster completed an excellent day behind the sticks, claiming one catch and two stumpings.

In the second semi-final, Laguna Gully advanced to the final after beating HKCC Witherers by one wicket at Mission Road. Batting first, Witherers were dismissed for a disappointing 120, with Anand Ramaswamy claiming 3-32. In reply, Mark Fuzes grabbed 3-8 from his four overs but his efforts were in vain as Lagauna Gully sneaked home on 122-9. Pranav Shah was the saviour for Laguna Gully, finishing unbeaten on 46.

The second semi-final of the Saturday Plate competition was played between SCC Vampires and Centaurs at Po Kong Village Road Number One ground. No details from the match are available, other than that SCC Vampires were the winners.

The Saturday Cup final will be played at KCC on 12th May 2007 between Crusaders and Laguna Gully while SCC Vampires will meet MCC St Georges in the Plate final (venue to be advised).

Related Links:

2006-07 HKCA Saturday Cup/Plate (Twenty20 Format)

2006-07 HKCA Sunday Cup

HKCC Wanderers and Pakistan Association met in the Sunday Cup final which was played in fine and warm conditions on 6th May 2007. HKCA had rejected the Pakistan Association's request for the match to be deferred by one week as four of their senior players were away on official duties with the Hong Kong team in Chennai. The HKCA cited its long-standing policy that no matches would be re-schedule to accommodate player unavailability.

HKCC Wanderers won the toss and elected to bat, with the in-form Darren Tucker and Imran Idrees opening the innings. The two batted comfortably and with aggression to bring up their century partnership off 15 overs. The partnership was finally broken in the 23rd over with the total on 156 when Idrees was caught behind off the bowling of Inderjit Singh for a well-struck 65. Tucker, who had hit 181* and 169* in his two previous innings, missed out on a third successive century when he holed out to long-off in the 30th over with his score on 81. A spate of wickets briefly stalled the Wanderers push for runs but a swashbuckling 78 from Neil Jones saw them reach on impressive 335-9 from 49 overs (the innings curtailed by the umpires due to time lost).

Pakistan Association's task of chasing down the total was made harder when they were docked two overs for a slow over-rate. Facing the ominous task of scoring 336 from 47 overs, their reply got off to the worst possible start when Rob Tucker bowled skipper Jamshaid Khan off the first ball of the innings. Waqas Barkat (34) and Tahir Khan (33) tried their best to boost the run-rate but wickets fell at regular intervals and the Pakistan Association challenge fizzled out for a total of only 146 off 33 overs. Wanderers' skipper Michael Jamieson claimed the best bowling figures with 3-28. He was ably supported by Rob Tucker, Hugo Davison and Imran Idrees who claimed two wickets apiece.

Jamieson accepted the Sunday Cup trophy from HKCA President Terry Smith, before being doused in a shower of beer and champagne by his team-mates.

Their Sunday Cup triumph capped a fairy-tale return by Wanderers to the Hong Kong domestic cricket scene - the team having been disbanded after the 1995-96 season. Wanderers also impressed with a second place finish in the 2006-07 HKCA Sunday League.