Tag: 2016

Fincher Shield – 9th-10th January 2016

The bi-annual two-day fixture between Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) and Hong Kong Cricket Club (HKCC), for the Fincher Shield, was played at KCC over the weekend of the 9-10 January 2016.

KCC KARP won the toss and elected to bowl first in partly cloudy conditions on a wicket showing a distinctly green tinge. Adil Mehmood struck early to dismiss both HKCC openers with just 14 runs on the board. A third wicket partnership of 69 between Scott McKechnie and Nizakat Khan lifted the score to 83 before McKechnie fell to a catch in the slips from the bowling of Roy Lamsam for 39. Raag Kapur fell cheaply but then skipper Courtney Kruger joined Khan to add another 67 runs for the fifth wicket. Nizakat eventually fell for 55 and Kruger followed with 62 as HKCC were dismissed for 233 in 67.1 overs. Mehmood was the pick of the KCC bowlers with 5/50 from 16.1 overs, while Imran Arif picked up 3/54 from 17.

KCC’s first innings reply got off to a poor start and they were soon reduced to 4/32 as Tim Cutler, Miles Richardson and Anshuman Rath each claimed a wicket for HKCC. Jamie Atkinson and Waqas Barkat settled the home team’s nerves with an accomplished fifth wicket stand and they finished the first day’s play without further loss on 4/56.

The Atkinson/Waqas Barkat partnership added a further 107 runs on the second day before both batsmen fell in quick succession off the bowling of Rath. Barkat (54) was first to fall with the score at 163 and Atkinson followed five runs later for 66. The remaining batsmen could only add another 30 runs as KCC was dismissed for 198 – a first innings deficit of 35 runs. Anshuman Rath was the pick of the HKCC bowlers with 3/15 from seven overs while Simon Cook, Miles Richardson and Tim Cutler claimed two wickets apiece.

The KCC bowlers dominated the second innings as Imran Arif and Adil Mehmood grabbed three wickets each in an explosive opening burst that left HKCC reeling on 6/33. Mehmood’s fourth wicket was claimed shortly after, giving him nine for the match, as HKCC slumped to 7/45. Nizakat Khan (10) and Miles Richardson (30) shared a 29-run eighth wicket partnership but they were the only two HKCC batsmen to reach double-figures in a poor effort that saw them dismissed for 84 in just 23.4 overs. Mehmood finished with figures of 4/36 from eight overs while Arif grabbed 3/27 from 10. Najeeb Amar also grabbed a brace for KCC.

Set a target of 120 for victory, KCC lost Ninad Shah early but some sensible batting steadied the innings before a double strike by Anshuman Rath and a further wicket by Simon Cook saw them reduced to 4/45. Cook’s second wicket had KCC teetering at 5/59 but an unbeaten sixth wicket stand between Jamie Atkinson (22*) and Ryan Campbell (40*) saw them home in 19.4 overs. For HKCC, Anshuman Rath picked up 3/44 while Simon Cook claimed 2/36.

Man of the Match honours went to KCC’s Adil Mehmood who claimed match figures of 9/86 from 24.1 overs including five maidens.
At KCC: HKCC 233 from 67.1 overs & 84 from 23.4 overs lost to KCC KARP 198 from 53.5 overs & 5/120 from 19.1 overs by five wickets.