SCC Dragons in HK 6s, 28-31 October 2004

SCC Newsletter Report by the Anti-Basher:
This was the 3rd annual international Hong Kong Cricket Festival (held the week before the prestigious Hong Kong International Sixes), and featured 27 teams from around Asia. For the first time there was a social ‘Spoon’ division and also a ladies division, with 18 teams competing in the Open division. Stronger versions of all the teams visting the Shanghai Sixes were there, including the Subconts, Lamma, Toofan and HKCC.

After a highly successful joint tour only two weeks previous, plus the clash with the crucial league play-off, it was unsurprising that both the Pearls and the Dragons struggled to get numbers for this tournament.

Thursday 28th October
In spite of the problems, it was disappointing that only two Dragons made the trip: Anthony “The Slammer” Richardson and myself.

Undeterred, I set about recruiting players in the first bar I entered, and within half an hour had number three, a Kiwi who hadn’t played in 4 years, although it later transpired he had played indoor cricket for NZ! By the end of the night, three of the Lamma Spoon team eligible as only competing in the Spoon – had also agreed to make their Dragons debuts the next day.

I was also given a schedule later, which, at first glance appeared very kind: 1.30pm vs. The Pakistan Cricket Association, and 4.30pm vs. Hong Kong University (HKU). That was until someone showed me that day’s South China Morning Post, declaring none other than the Pakistan Association and HKU as the two teams to look out for in the tournament. Oh well, I thought, maybe we’ll have a chance in the bowl and at least I can get as drunk as I like.

Friday 29th October
SCC Dragons vs. Pakistan Association, 1.30pm

The day started well, with me awaking in the right house, fully clothed. I also made it to the ground on time for the toss with the Pakistan Association, which I duly won, after their captain had requested an official be present, and elected to field.

Before the first match, the team was introduced to each other (it was a bit like a game for the Hot Dogs), and the players were sent out with the instructions to simply have fun.

Iftikhar gave the Pakistan Association a good start with 32. But they were then pegged back by a couple of wickets and a great fourth over of off-spin by Ravi Dahiya, who struck twice and conceded only 11 runs. Suddenly his warm-up of 5 cans of Fosters compared even more favourably to my 20 minutes of stretching.

A good final over from Ian Harling (founder of Lamma CC) meant they finished on 66-4, which on the face of it was very gettable.

I strode out to bat with our Kiwi recruit, Zach Pratt, and as we saw the left-arm quick marking out his run-up, rather hopefully asked him if he’d like to face. No such luck, and I prodded weakly at the first ball as it whizzed past the edge. The bowlers face lit up, and those of my teammates fell.

But then something happened: maybe some of the previous night’s Jack Daniels reentered my bloodstream, for I unleashed a furious pull over straight midwicket for six. Attempting to do the same thing next ball, I edged it high over the keeper’s head for four. The next was guided to 3rd man for four, the 5th flicked over square-leg for six, and the 6th four through midwicket. 24 off the first over, game on.

Zach took a single off the 1st ball of the 2nd and I dispatched the next ball for another leg-side to complete a shock 7-ball retirement. Our no. 3, Englebert “Viv” Richards joined Zach, and they proceeded to seal a famous victory with 15* and 17 respectively.

The excitement amongst our guys was palpable and the organizers more than surprised. As we sat down to watch our vanquished opponents take on HKU, we did so as a team, and Ravi stepped up his preparations for the next match. This time I joined him.

HKU, featuring the Hong Kong player of the year (Hussein Butt, who’ll be playing in the Int’l Sixes), won comprehensively, so I was relieved when they won the toss and elected to bat against us.

SCC Dragons vs. HKU, 4.30pm

With an explosive retirement from Hussein all but inevitable, we opened hopefully with our two slowest bowlers and to a certain extent it worked as it wasn’t until the 2nd ball of the third over that he retired for 35. After that, it was a different game, and bowling an fielding out of our skins – taking two great catches and Anthony completing a great run-out – we restricted them to 67-4.

After my previous innings, expectation from those that didn’t know better was high. I reassured them that I normally bat at 6 in sixes cricket, and that an over from Hussein would be a different prospect.

With him bowling from wide of the crease and trying to cramp me for room, I decided my best tactic was to step inside the line where possible and look for the wide. Hussein obliged 3 times (but also made me grateful for my thigh pad), and with a four through extra cover, 14 came from the first over.

With that out the way, Zach and I stepped things up. Zach smashed a coule of boundaries before being bowled for 13, and I found my form again to hit three 4s and two 6s for a 13-ball 32*. Viv came in again and hit two 4s to complete a second remarkable victory and against the odds see us into the 2nd round of the Cup!

Saturday 30th October

The day broke form me slightly easier than the day before, but in the knowledge that we had an even tougher task ahead of us.

SCC Dragons vs. Lamma CC, 1.30pm
Bolstered by a new recruit, Shanta, a Sri Lankan visiting from Taiwan, we prepared to face a very strong Lamma side, featuring only Toby White from the team that made it to the final of the Shanghai Sixes. As tournament organizers they had also managed to recruit a couple of ring-ins from other HK sides, including two of HK’s best players, Tauseef and Imran (our kit supplier).

Toby got them off to a quick start with 20, before Imran smashed 32 not out and Tauseef 24, as 23 were taken from the last over to take them to 81-2.

That was always going to be a tall order, and despite a good first over, Tauseef bowled a clever, slow 2nd, in which Zach fell, and we were up against it. At the start of the third I was bowled hitting across the line for 19.

Thereafter Viv (11*) and Anthony tried to salvage some pride, and we eventually settled for 43-3. Hugs and promises of alcohol from Toby were our only consolation.

SCC Dragons vs. Little Sai Wan, twilight
Having watched Little Sai Wan (LSW) in turn thump Lamma, we agreed with them LSW to play our match at the end of the day as opposed to the 9.30am start scheduled for the next day.

The match was reduced to 5 5-ball overs, but this didn’t stop LSW racking up 78-1: player of the tournament Ahmed hitting 30* and Irfan 22*. Ravi though, at the end of another day in support of Fosters, bowled a sublime over of 1-9.

With a bowling attack to match their batting power, and in fading light, the response of 58-1 was pretty respectable. Zach hit a six over the fence and down towards the harbour before being bowled, Anthony played well for 14* – including a great hook for 4 off his nose off an unfriendly bouncer and I finished with 27*.

Sunday 31st October

A third day of glorious weather blessed the finals day, which proved to be highly entertaining and with opponents of ours taking all three trophies.

The Pakistan Association comfortably won the Bowl, HKU equally easily beating the Hong Kong Casuals in the Plate.

The SubConts beat Lamma in the Cup semis, and Little Sai Wan beat Kaohsiung of Taiwan to set up an exciting final.

Batting first LSW smashed 82-1 off the first 4 overs, but stumbled in the last to finish on a nonetheless daunting 87. The SubConts batting was equally explosive, but in the end the chase proved just too much and LSW deservedly lifted the Cup.

All-in-all the tournament was a great weekend, very sociable, but also of a much higher standard of cricket than the Shanghai Sixes.

Next year both the Dragons and Pearls should attend with good sides, but also maybe a side in the Spoon. We won’t have a better opportunity to test ourselves, learn from some excellent teams and players, and create contacts with other teams and groups in the area!