Aizaz Heroics not enough as Hong Kong China miss out on Final

Aizaz Khan struck a scintillating 104 off 77 balls, which included six sixes, nearly scripting an epic comeback win as Hong Kong fell 56 runs short of Canada’s 367.

After putting Canada into bat, Hong Kong China was rewarded with the early wicket of Navneet Dhaliwal who was trapped in front for 7 by a fired-up Ayush Shukla, who along with Ehsan Nawaz, regularly beat the outside edges of Canada’s batters.

Canada, however, managed to survive the home side’s opening burst before 17-year-old Yuvraj Samra and Pargat Singh opened their shoulders in a mammoth 242-run stand for the second wicket.

Samra was particularly severe down the ground, smashing two of his six maximums into the sightscreen, and another onto the camera mounted above the sightscreen. The left-hander scored 124 off 137 to support his more experienced partner who cleared the ropes five times in his 126 off 112.

Shreyas Movva applied the finishing touches to a dominant batting innings, putting on a masterclass of scoops and shots over the keeper — two of which traveled the distance — to end unbeaten on 54.

In reply, Hong Kong China lost openers Anshy Rath and Yasim Murtaza early to the bowling of Harsh Thaker. Babar Hayat and Nizakat Khan briefly rescued the innings with the former muscling his first and only six over deep mid wicket.

With the asking rate rising, Ishwarjot Sohi would turn the game squarely in Canada’s favor, dismissing Hayat for 49, who got a leading edge that was taken by Dhaliwal in the covers.

Nizakat was next to go as the home side found themselves reeling at 132 for four in the 27^th over.

Enter Aizaz.

Playing his first game of the series, he smashed a pair of sixes between mid wicket and square leg and three more down the ground, dominating a 93-run stand with Gorawara, who played a useful supporting role, scoring 28.

Soon after Gorawara’s dismissal, he brought up his century with a drive down the ground for four and a top edge that traveled over the ropes. Nasrulla Rana, who had just joined him at the crease smashed two sixes and a four off a Nikhil Dutta over to re-ignite hopes of a Hong Kong China victory.

Needing 84 to win off 33 balls with two batters well set on a beautiful batting surface, the home side had brought the crowd back to life.

However, Canada would hold their nerve, dismissing the dangerous duo before running out Ehsan Nawaz and Dan Pascoe to seal their victory.

Score Summary

Canada 367/3 in 50 Overs (Pargat Singh 126, Samra 124, Shukla 1-51) beat Hong Kong China 311/10 in 47.5 Overs (Aizaz 104, Hayat 49, Thaker 2-57, Dutta 2-60) by 56 Runs