HK Cricket Match Reports: Sunday 22 November, 2015

Sunday, 22nd November 2015
HKCC Scorpions v HKCC Optimists
The first HKCC derby of the Sunday Championship for 2015-16 saw HKCC Scorpions thrash HKCC Optimists by 160 runs. Excellent batting by the Scorpions top order saw them reach 2/305 off their 50 overs with Charlie Bright smashing an unbeaten 124 while David Varley (42), Raag Kapur (34) and James Redmayne (78*) all made useful contributions. Partnerships in the innings were impressive too with 103 runs for the first wicket; 90 runs for the second and an unbroken stand of 112 runs for the third.

If batting seemed easy, Matt Rafter dispelled any thoughts of a run chase as he grabbed four early wickets to leave the Optimists batting in tatters at 6/25. David Jacquier (30) and James Dillon (50) provided a little resistance but all it did was delay the inevitable as Scorpions ran out winners by 160 runs. Giacomo Lamplough picked up two late wickets to go with his two early strikes and finished with 4/18 from 6.4 overs. Rafter finished with figures of 4/25 from his eight over spell.
At HKCC: HKCC Scorpions 2/305 from 50 overs beat HKCC Optimists 145 from 29.4 overs by 160 runs.

HKCC Wanderers v KCC Infidels
At Kowloon Cricket Club, HKCC Wanderers enjoyed a big win over KCC Infidels on the back of a stunning bowling performance by Tim Cutler.

Infidels would have been happy to restrict the visitors to 9/217 from their 50 overs after they elected to bat first. Infidels had the better of the early exchanges but Harry Bailey (36) and Craig (49) got the Wanderers innings back on track after they had stumbled to 4/61. Wanderers were grateful for some useful knocks by the tail-enders to get them over the 200 mark.

A 50-run opening partnership between Ravi Sujanani and Sunny Bhimsaria set Infidels on the right path and at 1/79, they looked to be cruising. However, the return of Tim Cutler to the bowling crease turned the match on its head as Infidels were quickly reduced to 5/83. Bhimsaria aside, the Infidels’ batsmen appeared clueless against the spinning ball and their innings was wrapped up in 30 overs for 129. Culter’s impressive figures read 8/35 from ten overs, including three maidens, while Bhimsaria finished unbeaten on 70.
At KCC: HKCC Wanderers 9/217 from 50 overs beat KCC Infidels 129 from 30 overs by 88 runs.

DLSWCC JKN v DLSWCC Knights
At Mission Road, the derby match between DLSWCC JKN and DLSWCC Knights finished with JKN winning comfortably and earning a bonus point in the process. JKN batted first after winning the toss and they reached 225 in 41 overs with skipper Moner Ahmed top-scoring with 94 and Ehsan Khan hitting 33. With the ball, Knight’s skipper Niaz Ali picked up 3/45 while Aftad Ahmed claimed 3/32.

In reply, the Knights were quickly reduced to 4/12 with JKN’s opening bowlers Jangzeb Khan and Karandeep Singh making two early strikes each. Niaz Ali hit 66 but he couldn’t find enough support from the lower order batsmen and their innings finished on 178.
At Mission Road: DLSWCC JKN 225 from 41 overs beat DLSWCC Knights 178 from 50 overs by 47 runs.