Photo Credit - HKCC

FITCH U19 Championship - Day 1 Review
Monday 17th December

Game 1 – Hong Kong Cricket Club V Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club 9:30 am start at HKCC
Hong Kong Cricket Club captain Jhatha Subramanyan won the toss and elected to bowl first under blue skies in the opening match of the 2018 Fitch U19 Championship.
Jhalalafzal and Ali Khan opened the innings with Jhalalafzal striking a few clean boundaries to get the innings started. Ledger kept check of the LSW innings with an excellent new ball spell of 1-7 off 3 overs including the initial breakthrough with Jhalalafzal being well caught at mid-on by Dhruv Sodhi for 12. The power play was completed with the game in the balance at 27-1.
Ali Khan began to take ownership of the LSW innings with a flurry of boundaries taking the score to 67-1 off 10 Overs. Subramanyan made the second breakthrough tempting Ali Khan to hit to the longer side of the ground with Tej Sheopuri taking an excellent catch at deep mid-wicket. The introduction of Vidur Malik into the attack saw the 3rd wicket Furrukh comprehensively bowled for 7 (79-3). Brij Sheopuri upon being introduced to the attack made light work of the lower order to finish with figures of 4-6 off 2.5 overs to see LSW bowled out for 94. The LSW case wasn’t helped with only being able to field 9 players for the game.
Tej Sheopuri and Jhatha Subramanyan opened the batting for HKCC. Sheopuri was straight into his stride in the opening over punishing errors in line and length with 23 taken off the opening over. The runs continued to flow with the 50 partnership coming up inside the first 5 overs. Subramanyan found his groove as the target continued to be reduced with some excellent shots mostly through the leg side. HKCC cruised to a 10 wicket victory inside 8 overs with Tej Sheopuri finishing on 49 Not Out off 22 balls and Subramanyan 31 Not Out off 26 balls.
Standout performances:•Brij Sheopuri (HKCC) 4 for 6 off 2.5 Overs•Tej Sheopuri (HKCC) 49 Not Out off 22 Balls•Jhatha Subramanyan (HKCC) 31 Not Out off 26 Balls.
Result:Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club (94 all out) LOST to Hong Kong Cricket Club (95-0) by 10 Wickets | Scorecard


Game 2 – Hong Kong Cricket Club V Independents1:30pm start at HKCC
Independents captain Hamza Bukhari won the toss and elected to bat first in game 2 of the 2018 Fitch U19 Championship.
Bukhari and Saddiq made their way to the middle trying to make best use of an excellent batting wicket against a HKCC team buoyed by their opening victory v LSW. Ledger made the opening breakthrough bowling Saddiq for 2 in the second over leaving Independents 7-1. Bukhari led from the front by hitting a number of boundaries as Independents made their way to 37-1 after the initial 6 over power play.
Subramanyan’s opening over saw the back of the dangerous Bukhari for a well-made 32 off 35 balls to leave Independents 54-2 after 9 overs. Subramanyan struck twice more with an excellent delivery to bowl Karandeep Singh for 19 and G Singh well caught by Hussain Khan for 4 to reduce Independents to 65-4 in the 13th Over. HKCC to this point had bowled with discipline and defended the short 40 metre boundary on the pavilion side with some good plans and field settings. Brij Sheopuri fresh from his 4 wickets in the opening game returned to see the back of Khan for 14 and with 3 overs to go Independents were 99-6. Muhammad’s late innings cameo took the score up to 131-7 off their allotted 20 overs. Subramanyan was the pick of the bowlers with 3-15 off 4 overs.
Vidur Malik and Kabir Sodhi opened the batting for HKCC in pursuit of 132. A chaotic opening over saw Kabir Sodhi dismissed for 0 deciding to leave a ball which was too straight off Hony Singh. Miles strode out to bat at number 3 and got off to a flying start with a 4 and a 6 in his first 2 deliveries. Khan struck in the 4th over to dismiss Miles LBW playing across a straight delivery leaving HKCC in a spot of trouble at 26-2 with Ledger coming out to join Malik. HKCC were 46-2 after the initial 6 over power play still needing 86 off 84 balls with 8 wickets In hand.
Malik began to find his touch and targeted shorter leg side boundary to good effect. Muhammad Ehsan was introduced and struck with his opening delivery trapping Ledger LBW for 12 bringing Suresh to the crease (65-3). Muhammad struck again bowling Suresh for 4 leaving HKCC 76-4 and a lot resting on Malik who was well set on 35 not out and joined at the crease by Tej Sheopuri. Malik bought up a well compiled 50 with a clean strike over mid-wicket and he and Sheopuri played responsibly to take HKCC to a second consecutive victory.
Standout performances:•Jhatha Subramanyan (HKCC) 3 for 15 off 4 Overs •Syed Hamza Bukhari (Independents) 32 off 35 Balls•Vidur Malik (HKCC) 55 Not Out off 52 Balls
Result:Independents (131-7) LOST to Hong Kong Cricket Club (132-4) by 6 wickets | Scorecard

Tournament Page
Tomorrows fixtures at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground are as follows:9:30am start – Pakistan Association Cricket Club v Kowloon Cricket Club1:30pm start – Independents v Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club