Asian Cricket Council Premier League

Asian Cricket Council Premier League: Malaysia v Hong Kong – 7 May, 2014

Hong Kong ended what they will regard as a disappointing Asian Cricket Council Premier League 2014 with a comfortable win over hosts Malaysia by 4 wickets. JJ Atkinson finally won a toss and unsurprisingly, given the four recent losses batting first, opted to chase. Another impressive performance by Hong Kong’s bowling attack saw Malaysia all-out for 184 in the 47^th over with Nadeem Ahmed taking taking 3-28 and Nizakat Khan strangling the batters with his nine overs yielding just 17 runs and a wicket. Hong Kong’s top order all contributed in a well structured run chase that, despite a couple of nervous late wickets, saw them knock-off the required target of 185 with 8 overs to spare.

Scorecard courtesy of cricinfo

Asian Cricket Council Premier League: Hong Kong v Nepal – 5 May, 2014

Irfan Ahmed scored a wonderful century and took two wickets in Hong Kong’s Duckworth Lewis loss to Nepal in the Asian Cricket Council Premier League. Irfan’s sensational knock included 10 4’s and 3 6’s, sadly none of Hong Kong’s other batsmen could stay with him and the team were bowled out for 181 in the 42 over after again losing the toss. Nepal comfortably reached their revised target of 144 in 38 overs, winning by 7 wickets with 23 balls to spare. A fourth consecutive team loss took a little of the shine from Irfan’s individual brilliance, but it shouldn’t. Congratulations Irfan, what a great knock!

scorecard courtesy of Cricinfo

Asian Cricket Council Premier League: Hong Kong v United Arab Emirates – 4 May, 2014

After a strong showing at the recent World T20 Hong Kong went into the Asian Cricket Council Premier League 2014 brimming with confidence and looking to do well. It’s all gone a bit pear shaped though after a third straight defeat – this time to the UAE by two wickets. For the second straight game after being asked to bat first the wickets tumbled. All the top order batsmen reached double figures but none pushed on. The bowlers did their best and keeping the team in the game, but defending totals around 150 in a 50 over game is asking a lot. Today UAE were 7-93 but sadly for Hong Kong cricket fans the an eighth wicket partnership of 29 and unbeaten ninth wicket stand of 36 saw UAE win by 2 wickets with 9 balls to spare.

scorecard courtesy of cricinfo

Asian Cricket Council Premier League: Hong Kong v Oman – 3 May, 2014

A quick-fire 38 from Haseeb Amjad was not quite enough as Hong Kong slumped to their second defeat at this year’s Asian Cricket Council Premier League falling 9 runs short of Oman’s 143. A steady bowling performance saw Hong Kong bowl out Oman in the 46 over with Tanwir Afzal and Irfan Ahmed both taking three wickets. An energetic start by Irfan Ahmed who smashed 20 from 10 balls looked to have set Hong Kong on the path to an easy win, but the rest of top order went cheaply and the Omanis picked up wickets at regular intervals to derail the run chase.

Scorecard courtesy of cricinfo