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Babar Hayat and Mark Chapman Smash Hong Kong to Victory

Mark Chapman bludgeoned a six to complete a consolation win, as he and Babar Hayat put on an unbeaten 127-run partnership to lead Hong Kong to an eight-wicket victory in the final T20I against Oman in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (26 November).

Chasing 150 for victory, both Babar (65*) and Chapman (63*) struck their highest ever T20I scores in a third-wicket partnership that spanned 14 overs. Their stand was the fifth-highest for the third wicket in T20I history, and the highest ever by an Associate side. It is also the highest-ever partnership in Hong Kong’s T20I and ODI history.

Both batsmen were still at the crease when Chapman struck a mighty six to take the side to 155 for the loss of only two wickets in 18.3 overs. The win also proved a consolation victory in the three-match series, after Oman won the first T20I by six wickets and the second by four runs.

Babar’s historic knock is the highest-ever T20I innings by a Hong Kong player, and came off only 45 deliveries, including four fours and three sixes. Chapman’s innings is the second-highest for Hong Kong, and came from 41 balls, including three fours and three sixes.

The side looked like it might be in trouble when it lost opener Kinchit Shah (5) in the second over, and then Anshuman Rath (20) in the fifth over. However, the two hard hitters showed no signs of pressure as they pushed the ball around for singles in between the boundaries.

Babar brought up his half century with a boundary in the 15th over, while Chapman’s came two overs later after the pair scampered between the wickets for two runs.

Earlier, captain Tanwir Afzal won the toss and sent Oman in to bat, and the side quickly set about putting runs on the board. Khawar Ali (18) and Zeeshan Maqsood (23) put on 34 runs at a run rate of 9.71 before Haseeb Amjad struck in the fourth over to dismiss Khawar, caught at long on by Babar Hayat.

New batsman Aaqib Sulehri was helped back to the change rooms on the very next ball, with Haseeb’s delivery striking his foot and forcing him to retire hurt. After Aizaz Khan dismissed Zeeshan Maqsood four overs later, Adnan Ilyas (49) and Aamir Kaleem (46 not out) combined for a 101-run partnership, scoring at well above a run a ball until Haseeb struck on the last ball of the innings with a plumb delivery, knocking out the stumps to dismiss Adnan one run short of his half century, on 49 runs, to see Oman post a total of 149 for the loss of four wickets.

Hong Kong’s Aizaz and Haseeb each claimed two wickets.

Hong Kong captain Tanwir Afzal was thrilled with his side’s clinical performance: “I think our approach today was really good. I am so happy that throughout this long tour, we’ve had some injuries, but we still have had guys who’ve done really well with the ball and in the field. We’ve struggled a bit with the batting, but it worked in this game and hopefully it is a good sign for us looking forward to our next game against Afghanistan.”

The skipper believed that the victory will put his team in a good mindset for the final match of its tour, a one-off T20I against Afghanistan on Saturday. “I think today was a very comfortable win against Oman, I think we really worked hard and we learned a lot from the last two games, and it is good for us, going forward. We have a few changes in the batting order and different roles, so it is a really positive sign that we clicked in this game, and hopefully it will work in the future.”

Hong Kong Head Coach Simon Cook was delighted with the record-breaking partnership: “Babar and Mark came out and were outstanding, it’s as good a run-chase as I’ve seen in T20 cricket, you don’t often get 100-partnerships in T20, and we’ve had one of the best ones here. To get an over-par score and knock it off with nine balls remaining was an outstanding effort. The two guys who got runs today really took ownership of that partnership, and ownership of the game, and they controlled it and really never let Oman into the game from probably the 10th over onwards.”

He believed that his charges would take some valuable lessons from the series loss to prepare for Saturday’s one-off T20I against Afghanistan. “The first two games, I think the word ‘frustrating’ was used, and I would probably use it again today – it is frustrating because if we’d played half as well yesterday as we did today, we would have probably taken this series 3-0. But as it is, we go down 2-1, but having learned a lot of really good lessons.”

“The win will fill the guys with a lot of confidence, certainly with a run-chase as emphatic as that. The Afghan bowlers will provide a challenging test for our guys, and also with the ball as well. So there is still a lot of work to do, but a lot of confidence can be taken from this run chase and how it was constructed, and how it was finished off in such a clinical fashion.”

Mark Chapman’s Century Powers Hong Kong to Victory

A record-breaking maiden century by Mark Chapman, making his ODI debut for Hong Kong, earned his team an 89-run victory in its World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) clash against host UAE in Dubai.

Making his ODI debut alongside Chris Carter, the 21-year-old vice-captain waltzed into the record books with an undefeated 116-ball 124, the second-highest ODI score ever made by a batsman on debut. Chapman is second only to West Indies’ Desmond Haynes (148), and he is the 10th player in ODI history to score a century on debut.

His undefeated knock of 124, which included two sixes and 11 boundaries, anchored the Hong Kong’s total of 298 for the loss of only four wickets after its 50 overs, before dismissing the UAE for 209 all out to record an 89-run victory.

Earlier, openers Anshuman Rath (36) and Kinchit Shah (34 retired) put on a 77-run partnership, but a collision between the two as they scampered between wickets sent Kinchit back to the dressing room with an injured shoulder. Number three Babar Hayat (45) continued his run-scoring streak and put on a 90-run partnership with Chapman, the highest partnership of the game. But it was Chapman, who arrived in Dubai on Saturday, who dominated the crease with a measured but aggressive knock that saw him still at the crease at the end of 50 overs.

Nizakat Khan added a career-best 28, and for the UAE, Ahmed Raza and Zaheer Maqsood picked up two wickets each.

If the UAE were intimidated by either the record-breaking centurion or the imposing run chase, it did not show it. Amjab Ali (18) and Shaiman Anwar (76) quickly set about striking boundaries, but the Hong Kong bowlers managed to take regular wickets around them. 18-year-old Anshuman Rath starred with three wickets 22 runs, while Haseeb Amjad picked up three for 49.

The sides will return for the second match in the two-ODI WCLC encounter on Wednesday 18 November.

Hong Kong Qualify for WorldT20

Hong Kong beat Afghanistan off the last ball of the match to qualify for the World T20 in India in 2016.

Hong Kong’s chase of Afghanistan’s 161 for 7 sprang to life with the arrival of Mark Chapman, who demonstrated the urgency that was sorely needed earlier with 40 off 25 balls. The 21-year-old vice-captain frequently shuffled around the crease for paddles and scoops to throw the Afghanistan bowlers off their lengths.

Hong Kong scored 12 runs in the 16th, 17th and 18th overs, with Chapman doing the majority of the damage including a crisp six over long-off in that stretch. He ramped another four past fine leg in the 19th and a single off the last ball of that over kept him on strike with Hong Kong needing 16 off the final over.

Mark Chapman attempted to clear midwicket from the first ball of Mohammad Nabi’s over, but was brilliantly caught on the boundary. If it seemed as if Hong Kong’s chances of victory had gone, Babar Hayat thought otherwise. He swatted the next delivery through fine leg for four, and then launched the third ball of the over, another full toss, over midwicket for six. That took the equation down to six runs from three balls, and Nabi then bowled a wide to knock another run off the target. Babar then scampered a three to the long boundary at midwicket, before Tanwir Afzal was run out attempting a single. That left two required from the final ball of the match, which Hayat slapped through midwicket to secure qualification.

Afghanistan’s total of 161-7 had appeared to set up the encounter seemed perfectly and so it proved, as an enthralling run chase played out. Hong Kong’s intent was clear from Irfan Ahmed’s two emphatic straight sixes in the opening four overs. After he was dismissed for 16, Jamie Atkinson and Niakhat Khan added 51 for the second wicket, though Hong Kong slipped below the required rate. Niazkhat was well caught at third man. Soon after Atkinson, who played responsibly for 47 and nonchalantly swatted a couple of sixes over long on, was caught at long off.

That left Hong Kong needing 64 from 5.1 overs – an onerous task against Afghanistan’s bowling attack. But Mark Chapman played an innings that showcased his timing, improvisation, power and purpose running between the wickets to set up the thrilling denouement.

The day began with Afghanistan winning the toss and choosing to bat: a surprising decision given the 10am start at Malahide on a slightly overcast day. Mohammad Shazhad, Afghanistan’s chunky opener, did not seem perturbed by the conditions as he powered Tanwir Afzal for two straight boundaries in the opening over of the match. But off the first over in the fourth over he attempted to flat-bat Haseeb Amjad down the ground, and could only get a leading edge to third man, where Aizaz Khan snaffled a sharp chance. Five immaculate deliveries to Asghar Stanikzai followed as Haseeb recorded a wicket maiden: a rare achievement in Twenty20cricket, especially in the Powerplay.

With Nadeem Ahmed continuing the form he displayed in taking 5-12 against Namibia, Hong Kong established a measure of control. After eight overs Afghanistan had scored only 50 runs, but, with only one wicket down, they had developed a platform from which to accelerate. Irfan was hit for two sixes in his first over as Stanikzai and Nawroz Mangal bristled with intent.

Aizaz Khan was hit for boundaries from his opening two deliveries, but his response highlighted his character. Varying his length and delivering well-directed yorkers, he conceded only two runs from his next seven balls that included removing Stanikzai for 29 with a delivery that was full and jagged back late, and left Afghanistan 85-2 off 11.1 overs.

With Mangal making a cultured 53, Afghanistan continued to accelerate. But Afghanistan’s assault was less spectacular than they would have envisaged, with Haseeb once again outstanding in the death overs.

Hong Kong never wilted in the field, with Chapman taking two smart catches at long on to prevent Afghanistan reaching 170. But Hong Kong’s best moment of the innings came when Najibullah Zadran heaved Irfan to midwicket and Kinchit Shah proceeded to take a spectacular diving catch.

Hong Kong Beat Ireland by 5 Runs

Four wickets in 7 balls across the 18th and 19th overs sealed Hong Kong’s win over one of the tournament favourites Ireland. The win also means that Hong Kong have to win one of their two remaining games against the USA and Namibia to qualify for the knock-out stage of the ICC World T20 Qualifier.

Batting first Hong Kong scored 129/8 on a damp night in Dublin. Mark Chapman top scoring with 30 while Anshuman Rath, Nizakat Khan scored 22 and 25 respectively. Tanwir Afzal added a crucial 18 at the end. Despite starting strong with a 43 run partnership between Stirling and Porterfield, Ireland’s chase disintegrated amidst some fine tight bowling with Nizakat Khan and Irfan Ahmed outstanding. Ahmed only conceding 3 runs of the 19th over while taking two wickets to take Man of the Match with figures of 3/11.