Hancock Shield (HKCC v. KCC) at HKCC - 20-21 April 2002

Result: HKCC won by 3 runs

The bi-annual Hancock Shield match between Hong Kong Cricket Club and Kowloon Cricket was played in fine and warm conditions at HKCC on 20-21 April 2002. The two day match followed a 2 innings-100-overs per side format with the first innings of each team not exceeding 60 overs.

Match Report

Wonderful weather graced the HKCC over two days when the answer as to who kept the Hancock Shield went down to the last ball with 4 to tie and 6 to win.

First, a word on the format, 100 overs a day, two innings, 60 overs and 40 overs. Lead to be carried forward, no restriction on bowling or field placement. The team with a higher combined total after 100 overs wins.

KCC skipper (Rahul Sharma) won the toss and had no hesitation in inviting the opposition, lead by Adam Smith to bat. The wicket was a bit soft and it was thought that Jammy "Shoulders" Mohammed and Zubair would get early purchase out of it. There was lot of sideways movement, which was not controlled...result..over 8 extra overs were bowled...main culprits were the fast bowlers who accounted for over 40 no balls and wides..everyone knew that these extras could kill us....and kill us they did. Mallinson played a stodgy dogged innings of 40, Adam Smith batted really well for his 80 odd, but it was Adrian Ashman's late blitz of 70 in 45 balls that propped the score to 316 off 60. Zubs turned in a lion hearted performance bowling 20 overs. Must add that his last 10 overs were very disciplined and accurate and he was well rewarded with four wickets. Tauseef was good in spells but not really consistent to bother the batsman too much. The skipper turned his arm over as well for a couple of wickets but was at the receiving end of Ashman's bat, as was Lama, who was a bit disappointing. While his keenness was never in doubt, Chris Williams was consistent but never looked like troubling the batsman too much. A word for our ever so hardworking keeper, Ray "Brewbags" Brewster, who was as brilliant as ever and could certainly teach a thing or two to people half his age.

Instructions in the changing room were to get as close to the HKCC score as possible, which, with the wicket now playing very true and well, was not going to be an unsurmountable problem. With 40 overs to bat out KCC ended the days play at 176 for 4 with the skipper playing well for his unbeaten 92. Manoj shined with his 45 off 30 balls, but other than that there was not too much to write about the batting. Of the other batsman, Roy looked good and Ravi nicked one to the keeper off Deller.

With 20 overs to go on day two the task was to accelerate the scoring without losing wickets. Jards, who had kept skipper company overnight was first to go, caught behind of Ashman. Lama did not trouble the scorers too much, involved in a mix up with the skipper who by now had got to a well deserved 100. Jamshaid and Zubs provided the real fireworks in the end smoting Adam Smith for a couple of sixes. Jammy got 31 from 20 balls and Zubs 15 off 9. A word about Smithy...he was excellent and incredibly accurate and consistent with his left arm around spin. Bowled 25 overs from one end. He would have been more richly rewarded for his efforts if it was not for Rahul, who took most strike against him. In the end KCC were 24 short, 292 for 9, with the skipper remaining unbeaten on 148.

The wicket by now was playing really well and a big second innings score was expected, and the HKCC did not disappoint their home support. Mallinson and Watkins got them off to a flyer. Watkins in particular was very harsh on anything pitched short and our opening bowlers obliged. While Zubs controlled his wides and no balls limiting them to only 1, Jammy again bowled 12 no balls and wides off 8 overs. Watkins was out after getting a run a ball 50 and was replaced by Hodgson who showed why he was part of the Hong Kong Sixes Squad this year. He made a brilliant 70 odd off 50 balls. Mallinson did the right thing by keeping one end going while the other batsman made the KCC bowlers work really hard. Adam Smith came in and smashed 15 off four balls while Mallo remained unbeaten in the end with fine 95. Bowling was not great the only exception being Zubs who bowled his heart out with 12 overs to add to his 20 in the fist innings. Chris Williams and Ravi bowled well but could not do much on a wicket where there was no room for any error, an inch short or over pitched and the ball disappeared very very quickly.

The score to get was 297 off 40 overs, a task that looked daunting but not improbable. A word for Roy Lamsam who split his right index finger when failing to take a relatively quick but straight forward chance offered by Watkins of the bowling Chris. Roy probably thought it was "too easy", given the blinder he had taken in the first innings off Zubs to get rid of a very dangerous Adam Smith.

Manoj and the skip opened the innings and set about trying to get 8.5 runs an over. Manoj was the first to go caught at mid-on, spooning an easy catch to Adam Smith. It was very obvious that Smithy would do the bulk of the bowling from one end. In fact he bowled 14 of the possible 20 from one end. Ravi was promoted to 3 to accelerate the run getting, and he did not disappoint the skipper. They added an even 100 in 15 overs with Ravi getting a brilliant 50. He was quite severe on Ashman, who by now had chosen to bowl from a three yard run-up. Jards came in at the fall of Ravi's wicket who thought he was not ready when he was trapped plumb in front by a quick seam-up Smith delivery..bad luck Ravs...next time...you move away. In walked Jards whose first words to the skipper was "don't worry mate"...and did he prove it...hit big Jammo for 27 in an over, which really changed the tone of the game. The skipper got to his second 100 in the day and was looking to really accelerate when he holed out to Smithy off the very docile Hodgson who was called on to stem the run riot. Jammy once again showed why he is probably the best pinch hitter in town getting stuck into Smithy...this time his 31 took him only 12 balls.

Lama and Tauseef were at the crease when the last over came up with 20 needed to win...to be bowled by Hodgson. 1 off the first ball to Lama, 1 of the second ball to Tauseef, 1 off the third to Lama...hopeless cause...but wait...the fourth disappears over the scoreboard for a huge 6, the fifth Tauseef goes down on one knee and smotes it way over square leg for another mighty 6...one ball to go...4 to tie and 5 to win...needed a 4 or a six for the perfect ending. Tauseef again goes down on one knee but finds only the inner edge for a single. KCC ends up on the wrong side of the equation by 3 runs.

For a match that was played over two days and 200 overs....the result came down to the last ball. A great game of cricket... in the end that was thoroughly enjoyed by all who played in it and all who had the opportunity to watch it. KCC had the consolation of picking up the man-of-the-match award...the skipper for this two 100's in the same game...a bottle of Moet that was consumed very quickly.

In the end many thanks to Gavin Erasmus, Nigel Sterms and HKCC for their brilliant hospitality and to "Deno" and his grounstaff for providing us with a great cricket wicket (wonder if any bowler would second that).

- Rahul

At HKCC (played 20-21.04.2002): HKCC 315-9 ((D Mallinson 45, P Watkins 31, A Smith 47, A Booth 35, A Ashman 69; M Zubair 3-73) and 272-3 (D Mallinson 94*, P Watkins 42, I Hodgson 74) beat KCC 292-8 (M Cheruparambil 45, R Sharma 145*, M Jamshaid 31; A Ashman 3-93, A Smith 3-74) and 292-6 (R Sharma 112, R Sujanani 50, G Jardine 35, M Jamshaid 31) by 3 runs