Tag: friendly

Match Report: Hong Kong 2-0 Singapore @ Mongkok – 11 October, 2016

https://youtu.be/81T_BzqUMb0

Hong Kong beat Singapore 2-0 in an international friendly at Mong Kok Stadium. Alex Akande got the hosts on their way with a clinical strike four minutes before the break. A powerful drive from Huang Yang in the 70th minute to put the result beyond doubt.

Irfan Fandi, the eldest son of Singapore legend Fandi Ahmad, made his debut as the visitors showed plenty of energy and initiative in the opening exchanges. However, the home team gradually forced their way into the contest. In the 33rd minute, catching the defence napping, Sandro threaded a neat through-pass to Akande. But Lions’ keeper Izwan Mahbud was alert to the danger, and raced off his line to deny the Kitchee striker.

Hong Kong broke the deadlock eight minutes later when Lam Ka Wai lofted the ball between two Singaporean defenders and into the path of Akande who did well to control the bouncing ball before coolly firing into the far corner.

Buoyed at taking the lead, and with the majority of the 4,136 fans cheering them on, the hosts looked the likelier of the two sides to score after the break. Singapore did have an opportunity to equalise in the 69th minute when the lively Iqbal Hussain latched onto Shakir Hamzah’s cross only to blast wide of the near post.

A minute later and Hong Kong scored their second. Roberto’s floated pass was nodded down by Jaimes McKee to Akande, who turned provider by laying the ball off for Huang to drill an unstoppable effort past Izwan.

Deep into injury-time, Singapore had a chance to pull a goal back as Iqbal forced Yapp into a flying reflex save that denied the Lions an opportunity to salvage some pride with a consolation goal.

Hong Kong:
Yapp Hung Fai, Cheng King Ho, Festus Baise (Andy Russell 65′), Helio, Lee Hong Lim (Leung Chun Pong 78′), Huang Yang (Lo Kwan Yee 87′), Lam Ka Wai (Jaimes McKee 65′), Sandro (Wong Wai 77′), Xu Deshuai (Roberto 65′), Godfred Karikari, Alex Akande
Scorers: Alex Akande (41′), Huang Yang (70′)

Singapore:
Izwan Mahbud, Madhu Mohana (Faris Ramli 80′), Baihakki Khaizan (Fahrudin Mustafic 58′), Daniel Bennett, Shakir Hamzah, Iqbal Hussain, M. Anumanthan, Hariss Harun (Izzdin Shafiq 64′), Gabriel Quak (Shawal Anuar 77′), Irfan Fandi (Faritz Hameed 59′), Khairul Amri (Yasir Hanapi 78′)

Additional reporting: Agencies

Japan Beat HK Cricket Club by 40 Runs

Japan Beat HK Cricket Club by 40 Runs

Warm and fine conditions greeted the players at Hong Kong Cricket Club where the home team hosted Japan in a 35-over per side warm-up game for the East Asia Series: Men’s Twenty20 Championship.

Japan batted first and their innings got off to a flying start with Muhammad Khan taking the long handle to the HKCC opening bowling attack featuring Mariko Hill. Hill’s four over spell cost 44 runs but she did manage to pick up the wicket of Naotsune Miyaji who top-edged a pull shot and was caught by Ravi Achan for 4. Belan Aiyadorai was belted for 32 off his two overs and Tom Ingram went for 40 from 5 as Japan rattled along at over ten runs per over. Ingram eventually got the dangerous Khan, gloving a pull-shot behind to keeper Tom Menogue for a belligerent 59. Japan’s skipper Masaoni Kobayashi was next to fall when leg-spinner Jhathevedh Subramanyan grabbed a brilliant one-handed return catch. Kanadage Navarathna (34) and Tomoki Ota (38) batted well in the middle overs before Ravi Achan picked up two wickets in quick succession for HKCC. Tsuyoshi Takada boosted Japan’s total with 26 but he was trapped LBW off the bowling of Harry Ledger. Japan was eventually dismissed for 215 from 35 overs.
For HKCC, Ravi Achan and Brenton McDonald claimed 2/15 and 2/27 respectively.

HKCC’s reply got off to a solid start with skipper Isaac Poole and Jhathavedh Subramanyan initiating the run chase. But just as their partnership looked set to flourish, Poole was dismissed by Nozomi Tomizawa for 12. Tom Menogue was caught by Navarathna for 13 and then Raheel Kano claimed three quick wickets to knock the stuffing out of the HKCC middle order. Meanwhile Jhathavedh was batting with maturity beyond his 16 years and he single-handedly kept the HKCC run-chase going as wickets tumbled at the other end. Mariko Hill chipped in with a confident 13 and Harry Ledger struck 16 but none of the HKCC batters were able to stay with Jhathavedh for any length of time. The HKCC innings was wrapped up after 32 overs for 175 with Jhathavedh carrying his bat for a fine unbeaten 83.
For Japan, Raheel Kano picked up 3/17 from four over spell while Naotsune Miyaji claimed 2/16, also from four overs.

At HKCC: Japan 215 from 35 overs beat HKCC 175 from 32 overs by 40 runs.