After the euphoria of toppling Ireland the previous day, Hong Kong proved unable to maintain their momentum against the United States. A clinical partnership from the American pair of Alex Amsterdam and Nicholas Standford helped the US chase down the 126 they needed to complete a second victory of the tournament.
Hong Kong, who had bowled so superbly to defend 129 against Ireland, proved unable to replicate that effort on a more benign batting track at Clontarf. When Irfan Ahmed produced a devilish in-swinger to snare Fahad Babar lbw and reduce the US to 62-3 in the 11th over, Hong Kong had hopes of a third consecutive victory in the World T20 Qualifiers. But Amsterdam, who survived a tough chance off Tanwir Afzal at long off on none, and Standford batted with increasing confidence as Hong Kong reached their target.
Defeat makes Hong Kong’s final group game, against Namibia at 215 pm Irish time on Sunday, crucial. If Hong Kong win they should finish in either second or third, meaning they will only have to win one of two play-off matches to guarantee their passage to India next year. But should they lose Hong Kong would need the US and Jersey to lose their matches, to Papua New Guinea and Ireland respectively, to finish fourth. In this scenario Hong Kong would still qualify for the play-offs, but would be left needing to win two consecutive games to qualify for the 2016 World T20.
Hong Kong Director of Cricket and Head Coach Charlie Burke said, “We’ve got to grow up and get better tomorrow – learn from today and do things a lot better. I’m sure we will because the guys don’t often have two bad games in a row.”
“The destiny is still in our own hands which is crucial. We win tomorrow and we’ll get in the top four. We’ll probably stay fourth because of the net run-rate but that’s the important thing. We don’t want to get to the stage where it’s out of our hands. That’s the last thing we want – we’re a better team than that.”
Much of Hong Kong’s bowling performance was admirable, especially typically skilful opening spells from Tanwir Afzal and Haseeb Amjad. The fielding held up impressively too, with Aizaz Khan effecting a run-out and two batsmen surviving close direct hits. But ultimately Hong Kong were defending too few runs on an agreeable summer’s day at the picturesque, almost boutique, club ground in Clontarf.
Inserted to bat for the second consecutive day, Hong Kong faltered early on against precise new ball bowling from the United States. Anshuman Rath was lbw in the third over, and when Nizakat Khan edged Adil Bhatti behind at the start of the seventh over, Hong Kong were uncertainly placed on 27-2.
Irfan Ahmed began more cautiously than is his norm, but unfurled an exquisite cut through point for four as he became more assertive. Having reached 26, Irfan was run out at the end of the tenth over, attempting a single when none existed.
Having made a disappointing 54 from their opening ten overs, Hong Kong accelerated in the second half of their innings, albeit less spectacularly than they would have hoped. Mark Chapman and Babar Hayat added 33 in 4.3 overs for the first wicket, Chapman’s skilful accumulation complementing Hayat’s powerful hitting, until Chapman fell to a brilliant catch behind attempting to glide the ball down to third man.
When Hayat, who heaved Timil Patel’s legspin over long on for a huge six, fell clean bowled against Japen Patel, the onus was on Jamie Atkinson to get Hong Kong up to a score approaching the 129-8 they successfully defended against Ireland the day before.
It was a challenge the former skipper embraced. Mixing powerful hitting, including a clean straight six over long off, with aggressive running between the wickets, Atkinson reached 34, off only 23 balls, until being run-out from the final ball of the innings.
While this was a disappointing day for Hong Kong, there was still something to celebrate. Aged 17 years and 249 days, Giacomo Lamplough made his debut for Hong Kong. For one of the youngest sides in the tournament, promising days still lie ahead.
Additional reporting: HK Cricket Association
