After adding just one run to their overnight score Hong Kong were dismissed for 203 in their first innings. They then endured a long tough day in the field as Namibia built their lead with opener RAH Pitchers scoring 107 not out. Namibia declared just before the close of play on the third day to set Hong Kong 302 to win this first match in the ICC Intercontinental Cup.
Match Status
Namibia 272 & 232/5d
Hong Kong 203 & 3/0 (2.0 ov)
Hong Kong require another 299 runs with 10 wickets remaining
Haseeb Amjad took 5 for 49 as Hong Kong bowled out Namibia for 272 early on day two. A top order collapse saw Hong Kong in trouble but 50’s from Nizakat Khan and Tanwir Afzal saw HK finish the second day on 202 for 9, trailing by 70 runs
Namibia and Hong Kong are playing the first round of fixtures in cricket’s ICC Intercontinental Cup for eight Associate Nations. The tournament takes place over two years, with the winner getting the chance to play Test cricket
“The ICC Intercontinental Cup is now the platform for emerging nations to fulfill their ambitions of playing Test cricket,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said. “It will therefore be fantastic to see the strongest Associates face off in an exciting competition, with great context, that will showcase world cricket’s growing pool of talent.”
See the live scorecard here
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
