Hong Kong vs. Denmark - ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers - Match Update

Hong Kong vs. Denmark - ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers - Match Update

After losing their precious two games, Hong Kong finally registered a much needed win in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers, as they defeated Denmark by a comprehensive 35-run margin in the 34^th match, played at the ICC Global Cricket Academy, Dubai, on March 18, 2012.

Choosing to bat, Hong Kong started impressively as the opening pairing of Irfan Ahmed and Babar Hayat added 76 in 9.4 overs. Hayat was the first player to depart, perishing off right-arm spinner, Booby Chawla, for a well made 28.

The skipper, Jamie Atkinson, arrived at the crease and briskly accumulated runs along Irfan Ahmed – with the duo adding 49 in just 5.3 overs. Atkinson smashed 4 fours and one six in his 21 ball 31 before Chawla got the better of the captain and Munir Dar, whose stay at the crease lasted just 2 balls.  

However, it did little to upset the new found regularity in the batting side’s game as Hong Kong finished on a daunting 170 for 5. Irfan Ahmed remained unbeaten with a well constructed 90, which included a total of 12 boundaries.  Nizakat Khan also managed to add a quick-fire 15 off 9.   

The Danish bowling line-up was largely ineffective apart from Chawla’s lone hand of 3 for 19.  

It was further followed by a lacklustre batting display, which saw Denmark losing their opener Shehzad Ahmed in the first very over bowled by Max Tucker. Kamran Mahmood (25), Aftab Ahmed (39) and Freddie Klokker (27) offered resilience in the middle stages but failed to match the climbing asking rate.

With the lower order adding little, mainly due to precise bowling from their opponents, the Danish side succumbed under pressure to end up on 135 for 9. Their main tormentor remained a 16-year-old spinner, Kinchit Shah, who toppled the batting line up by picking up 4 key scalps.

Irfan Ahmed was declared the Player of the Match for his outstanding unbeaten knock of 91. The win sees Hong Kong leapfrog Denmark onto the sixth position in Group A standings – having earned 4 points from their 5 matches.