Hong Kong have produced another performance to be proud of on their Tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, but bad light denied a great finish against Scotland in Edinburgh.
With just two overs remaining Hong Kong were 136-4, requiring 18 off 12 balls to win, when umpires decided light was not good enough to get a fair result. Being a One Day International (50 over) match - which had already been reduced to 20 overs a side - the failure to complete the minimum overs meant the game ended in a no result.
It came after a miraculous fight back from Hong Kong after Scotland, who raced to 96-1 after 8.4 overs, were restricted to 153-6 after 20. Debutant Ehsan Khan (2-28) became just the 23rd player in history to take a wicket with his first ball in ODI cricket.
In reply, Nizakat Khan was in red hot form again – backing up his scores of 69, 123 and 62 against Ireland - with 43 off 26 balls.
Hong Kong were cruising in the run chase at 124-2 with four overs to go, but the rapidly fading light and the loss of Anshuman Rath (32) and Babar Hayat (26) in successive balls raised the tension.
The second and final match of the series will be played on Saturday night with the winner to take home the Braidwood Cup.
INTERVIEW WITH COACH SIMON COOK
“It was the right decision to come off the field but the decision should have been made six overs prior as it was significantly dark then. And that was further away from a result when neither team could claim to be unhappy.”
“The umpires asked our batters if they could see the ball and our guys said it was tough and then Scotland were told they couldn’t bowl fast bowlers. So towards the end they could just bowl slow to have shot at getting in to contention and once we hit a boundary and a few singles they brought the fast bowler on. The umpires handled the game brilliantly other than that but they held on for a decision too long with the light in my opinion."
“It was a good performance – we were slow off the blocks and they got some momentum. Then we got back into the game once we got new batsmen in.”
“We are playing some really good cricket – well at least for 75% of the game, which is allowing us to compete but not allowing us to dominate and get right on top.”
“We looked in control a long way through this chase but with the conditions getting worse, it meant any new batter was going to take a while to get settled in.”
----------
AS IT HAPPENED
3am: As you can see it was pretty dark at the finish and would have made life difficult for Hong Kong's batsmen to score off the seamers in the last two overs. View image on Twitter
See Malcolm Cannon's other TweetsTwitter Ads info and privacy 2:50am: Huge disappointment with the light not holding on long enough to see out the end of the match. In ODI cricket a minimum 20 overs must be completed for a result. Shame for the fans the match was set for a great finish with Hong Kong needing 18 off the last 12 balls.
2:40am: Babar has been dismissed and then Anshuman run out next ball! This tight over from Mark Watt as pulled the game level - maybe even Scotland's way. HK 126-4 after 17 and require 27 off the last three overs.
2:30am: As if the match isn't tense enough!! Clouds closing in as HK require 30 off 24 balls. View image on Twitter
See Hong Kong Cricket's other TweetsTwitter Ads info and privacy 1:45am: Been a great start for Hong Kong and no guessing needed for who is leading the way! Nizakat 41* off 21 balls and HK are 58-0 after 6 overs. Aizaz Khan playing his part as well unbeaten on 12 keeping the pressure of HK's in-form man.
1am: Hong Kong require 154 to win from twenty overs. Ehsan Khan 2-28 and Nadeem Ahmed 1-20 were the pick, while Tanveer Ahmed produced some great yorkers and only went for 25 bowling four straight overs at the death.
12:30am: The spinners have hit back for Hong Kong! Nadeem Ahmed and Ehsan Khan combine to take 3/3 and pull Scotland back to 100-4 in the 12th over.
12:20am: Scotland are on fire - Kyle Coetzer has his 50 off 26 balls - Hong Kong pull it back somewhat with the wicket of Callum MacLeod for 28 off 17. Scotland 96-2 after 9.
12am: Players are back out there and it is now 20 overs per side!
11:30pm: A dropped catch in the first over has proved costly for Hong Kong as Scotland have raced to 38/0 after three overs. Coetzer and Wallace doing the damage.
