Hong Kong China first team wins run fest but Mathur makes his mark

In an exhibition game that followed the tournament phase of the Cricket Hong Kong, China One Day Series, Hong Kong China defeated the ‘A’ team by 124 runs after pummelling 439 in their first innings effort.

Anshy Rath (169), Nizakat Khan (131*) and Babar Hayat (105*) crossed three figures for the first team, but it was arguably 16-year-old Shiv Mathur who stole the spotlight with his fluent 115 off 133 deliveries.

Indeed, the enduring image of the day was national skipper Nizakat Khan congratulating the teenager after he reached his century.

Earlier in the day, the first team decided to bat first. Martin Coetzee gifted the A team with an opening when he took on the athletic Luke Jones at mid on, who effected a direct hit to restrict Hong Kong China to 25 for one at the end of five overs.

Unfortunately for the A team, they would have to wait an eternity for their next wicket as Anshy and Nizakat built a solid platform.

Yet, few would have anticipated the carnage that would follow. It started in the 34^th over when both batters went down the ground for a six each in a 15-run over, which up to that point was the most expensive of the innings.

Nizakat danced down the track to deposit Sheryar Khan over the ropes as 16 came off the 35th. Sheryar came in for more tap, leaking 19 in the 37^th. By the time Rath skied Anas Khan to Gorawara at long on, the score had ballooned to 280 for two with 12 overs left.

As things would turn out, it would be a long 12 overs, in which the first team was able to pummel 159 runs, largely thanks to the belligerent Babar. The powerful right-hander struck three fours and a six into the leg side in addition to a fortuitous outside edge that also went for four in a 22-run Ateeq Iqbal over. He reached his hundred off a misfield in the final over before closing out the innings by flicking a full toss into square leg for four.

In reply, the A team lost Shahid Wasif in the first over before Adit Gorawara and Mathur built a 168-run stand. Gorawara (77) picked Ehsan Khan off his hips for four before launching him out of the ground to reach his half century in the 27^th over. Mathur matched his partner’s exploits, smashing Ehsan down to long off before going two better over long on.

After Gorawara holed out to Aizaz Khan at long on off the bowling off Mohammad Ghazanfar, the A team started losing regular wickets.

Ehsan (4-90) would fire back with four wickets to clean up the lower order, but it was Ghazanfar (2-79) who got the crucial wicket of Mathur, bowling him with a quicker ball.

Hong Kong, China’s next assignment is a three-match bilateral One Day Series against Malaysia on Tuesday.