Ireland have defeated Hong Kong in the ICC Intercontinental Cup at Stormont despite an outstanding century from Nizakat Khan in the fourth innings.

Check out the match scorecard on CricHQ.

A brilliant century from Nizakat Khan wasn’t enough for Hong Kong as Ireland triumphed by 70 runs in their Intercontinental Cup clash at Stormont.

Hong Kong claimed the last three Irish wickets for nine runs to dismiss the hosts for 230 in their second innings – but the target of 310 for victory proved too much.

But Hong Kong, who had just 18 First Class appearances in the team compared to Ireland’s 943 were not disgraced, as Nizakat’s 123 kept the visitors with a fighting chance deep into the fourth and final day.

Nizakat became just the third batsman to score century in a First Class match for Hong Kong, which came from 181 balls. He had also scored 69 runs in the first innings.

Unfortuneately he couldn’t garner enough support with Babar Hayat and Nadeem Ahmed’s scores of 28 the next best for Hong Kong.

The win moves Ireland back to the top of the Intercontinental Cup table, while Hong Kong remain in fourth place.

IRELAND 316 (G Wilson 95 Tanwir Afzal 4-63 Nadeem Ahmed 4-73) & 230 (J Anderson 59 Tanwir Afzal 3-53 Nadeem Ahmed 3-65) def HONG KONG 237 (Anshuman Rath 73* Nizakat Khan 69) & 239 (Nizakat Khan 123 T Murtagh 4-29)

Interview with NIZAKAT KHAN

“I think we've improved a lot as a team – the guys are getting mature. Ireland are a top team and more experienced than us – this match shows clearly that we can compete against these big teams. We are fit now and no complaints from us we are looking forward to the T20s."

"I need to give credit to Mark Wright who has helped me with my batting and to Cambo (Ryan Campbell) and Cooky (Simon Cook). I was full of confidence before the game and I knew I would perform – it was unfortunate we lost but every one chipped and we will build on that for next game."

“It felt really good to make a 100 – when I came here I just wanted to score a hundred and it was an amazing feeling – it wasn’t easy but I just fought to the end. I’m happy with myself but I know I still have a lot of improvement to make.”

INTERVIEW WITH SIMON COOK

"I can’t help but look back on that first session where we leaked 40 or 50 runs and that put us behind the game on a low scoring pitch and you can’t give them that sort of head start and it came down to that at the end. We fought valiantly in the last innings here. Nizakat was outstanding but no one played with him."

"In defeat we had so many positives and to bat 100 over in the first innings and 80 overs in the second was a great effort. We have played some really good cricket and I think a few here were surprised as to how much of a fight we put up. I’m really happy with how we played but disappointed with the result I was confident we could win the game after our preparation."

"This morning's wickets set up our momentum – we thought we could chase 300 down and at lunch time we weren’t in a bad position. But a couple of quick wickets we were back on the back foot. We felt if we could bat the whole day we would win and we were 17 overs short of that."

"Nizkakat has been working really hard on a technical change in how he combats the short ball he’s worked really hard. After all his hard work I was confident he was going to perform because the last week he was hitting the ball so well in the nets and as soon as he went out to the crease he was moving really well. When he’s playing like this he’s looking like a million dollars and a First Class cricketer but he needs to keep pushing to make his game as consistent as possible. He could be one of the top Associate batters in the world."
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DAY THREE POST MATCH INTERVIEW WITH TANWIR AFZAL

“I think we recovered well – in the first innings we leaked runs with the new ball but we executed our plans well today” Afzal said.

After not such a good start in the first innings, I’ve bowled better and I just tried to contain the runs and bowl in the right areas. It was great for Tanveer to pick up a couple of wickets as well, I’m happy for him. He’s a talented young bowler.”

“Personally, I feel our spinners have bowled well in both innings and spun the ball a lot but when the Irish spinners bowled it didn’t turn as much so hopefully it plays the same for tomorrow. There’s a bit of movement with the new ball so our openers will need to survive.”

“They will be looking for another 30 or 40 runs, but we batted well in the first innings and we have big man Babar who will be ready to fire. I think we are still in the game if we can get the last four wickets quickly.”

“It was a really tough day with the weather making the ball wet and it was quite dark and tricky for batsmen and fielders to pick up the ball. Both teams are looking to win the game and hopefully the rain stays away tomorrow to give us a chance.”

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DAY TWO POST MATCH INTERVIEW WITH NIZAKAT KHAN

“Yeh we fought hard and just tried to hang in there after losing the two early wickets. When I was out there with Ninad we were just talking to each other a lot out there to urge each other to hang in there.

“Their bowling was very disciplined and we got no loose balls, so we had to work really hard to score runs and they have bowled to their plans, which have succeeded most of time.”

“I think we are still short of runs and we wanted to get closer to them so tomorrow is crucial for us. We have to take early wickets so can give ourselves a score to chase down.”

“I’m pretty happy with myself – although I was looking for a big score. I was playing really well which was pleasing after I’ve worked really hard with the batting coaches in Hong Kong on a few things. And I felt really good so hopefully I will get a big score in the second innings.”

“Anshy played really well – his innings was what we really needed but unfortunately no one stuck with him. He played to the conditions and looked solid. His innings at the end there has kept us in the game.”

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DAY ONE POST MATCH INTERVIEW WITH NADEEM AHMED

"I think we started poorly but we came back really well after lunch. I think the boys pulled it back and that was really good to see. It was challenging as they know the conditions and knew what to expect so we had to fight hard. Cooky pumped us up during the lunch break and we stood up to the challenge. To bowl them out for 316 is good but we gave away about 50 runs on this wicket, which we shouldn’t have done."

"It was turning a lot for the first day and gradually started to turn more and more as the day went on. When the team need you, you need to stand up and be counted on. Today was the day where I needed to stand up as the wicket suited me and things went well. I just tried to bowl tight overs and be more consistent and it started to turn a lot."

"We’ve got good players of spin and they have only one front line spinner so this could be something that gives us a small advantage. Both openers did well to stick in there until the end."

"This performance means a lot to us and to Hong Kong. We are in a good position so hopefully we can keep it going."


香港男子板球隊於香港時間昨晚（30日）展開面對愛爾蘭的「洲際盃」賽事。賽事採取四日制，昨晚深夜完成首日賽事。於貝爾法斯特主場出擊的愛爾蘭贏得擲毫，選擇先擊球進攻。港隊雖然開局表現慢熱，幸其後收復失地，在首日完結前令愛爾蘭全數出局。

愛爾蘭隊開局不俗，兩人出局後已經取得124分。不過其後港隊投手站穩陣腳，在首日完結前令愛爾蘭全數出局，愛爾蘭隊得到316分。首日賽事港隊的旋轉球投手發揮尤其出色，當中簡均倍（Nadeem Ahmed）將四位擊球手殺出局，失73分。球局尾段則有快速球投手艾夫扎（Tanwir Afzal）交出好表現，奪得四個出局，失63分。

簡均倍賽後表示：「我們開局不太好，不過在午餐時段過後狀態回勇，士氣大振。愛爾蘭熟悉球場狀況，有很大的主場優勢。教練曲世民（Simon Cook）在午餐休息時段期間大力鼓勵我們，隊友們都正面迎接挑戰。此局失316分算是不錯的成績，但是在最後一個出局前失了50分之多，是一個失誤。」

簡均倍又謂：「這個球場的草地很適合旋轉投球，因此我的角色尤其重要，整日我都盡力交出穩定表現。港隊有數名具實力的旋轉投手，而愛爾蘭只有一位，因此港隊會有少許優勢。這天表現對港隊的士氣很重要。我們的形勢頗佳，希望可以在餘下三日賽事可以保持。」

「洲際盃」次日賽會於香港時間今晚繼續舉行，將由港隊進攻。