Air India win first two matches of brief Hong Kong tour

Tim Smart scored 100 but the HKCA XI were still beaten by the touring Air India team © HKCA

The touring Air India team completed an undefeated tour of Hong Kong when they wrapped up the second match of their tour by 16 runs over an improved HKCA XI at Kowloon Cricket Club. In the first match of the tour, the Air India team, including seasoned international players Samir Dighe and Hrishikesh Kanitkar, had proven too strong for the HKCA XI, romping to a 77-run victory. The third match of the tour was cancelled after heavy rain ruined any chance of play at the Mission Road ground.

The touring Air India team scored a comfortable 77-run victory over a HKCA XI in the first match of their tour of Hong Kong, played at Hong Kong Cricket Club on Saturday, 31st March 2007. The format of the match allowed each team to select twelve players, with only eleven batting and eleven bowling. Conditions were warm and humid with occasional sunny patches.

The HKCA XI, led by Tim Smart, won the toss and elected to field. Air India opened their batting with Naman Ojha and Paul Valthaty, while the HKCA XI bowling attack started with Afzaal Haider and Khalid Khan. Haider accounted for both opening batsmen to leave the visitors on the back foot at 52-2. A third wicket partnership of 57 was broken when Butt Hussain had Hrishikesh Kanitkar caught by Tabarak Dar for 32. Dhreejag Jadhav followed shortly thereafter, dismissed by the Ahmed brothers - caught Nadeem, bowled Irfan - to leave Air India on 120-4. That was the last success for the HKCA XI for quite a while as Neeraj Patel and Parag Madakaikar put together an impressive partnership of 138 runs. The partnership was finally broken when Irfan clean bowled Madakaikar for a well-struck 83. Patel continued to dominate the HKCA XI bowling attack and he was unlucky not to bring up a century, falling for 94 - Irfan's third wicket of the day. Some late order hitting by Ankit Chavan, who finished unbeaten on 36, lifted the Air India total to 345-7 from their 50 overs. Irfan Ahmed was the best of the HKCA XI's bowlers, claiming 3-61 in a nine over spell while Afzaal Haider picked up two wickets at a cost of 73 runs. Butt Hussain's 1-33 from ten overs was the most economical, given that all the other Hong Kong bowlers went for more than six runs per over.

In reply, the HKCA XI lost openers Nasir Hameed and Tabarak Dar by the time the score reached 25 and the further loss of Butt Hussain with score on 54 proved decisive. A fifty-two run partnership between Mark Kratzmann (36) and Irfan Ahmed (39) lifted the HKCA XI to 122 but when both batsmen fell in quick succession it looked like the home team's cause was all but lost. But a partnership of 120 between Courtney Kruger and Najeed Amar kept the HKCA XI's hopes alive. Kruger, playing his first international match since recovering from major brain surgery, was finally dismissed for a well-struck 42 while Najeeb thrashed an unbeaten 88. But Najeeb's efforts were too little too late and the HKCA XI finished well short of their target at 268-7 after 50 overs. Neeraj Patel was the most successful of the Air India bowlers as he claimed 2-42.

Scorecard: HKCA XI v. Air India, HKCC - 31 March 2007

Air India's second match of their short tour saw them take on a slightly different HKCA XI at Kowloon Cricket Club. Overhead conditions were again cloudy, although a breeze help to keep temperatures more to a more comfortable level.

Air India once again batted first but this time most of the batsmen struggled against the HKCA XI attack. Butt Hussain claimed two wickets and Afzaal Haider and Khalid each grabbed one each to leave the Air India innings in tatters. It wasn't until Parag Madakaikar joined Hrishikesh Kanitkar at the wicket that any sort or order was restored. Kanitkar scored 31 before edging Ilyas Gul to the wicket-keeper for 31. Madakaikar found other able partners in Sarvesh Damle (23) and Samir Dinghe (27*) as the total reached a level of respectability. Madakaikar was finally outdone by Zain Abbas after striking a brilliant 111 - his innings the stand-out performance in a final total of 255-9. Butt Hussain grabbed a late wicket to finish with three for the match.

Skipper Tim Smart, who had not batted in the first match, opened with Imran Idrees and two got the innings off to a solid start. Idrees was the first to fall, stumped with his score on 14. Rahul Sharma joined Smart but his inings was cut short when he was run out with his score on 18. When Butt Hussain and Irfan Ahmed fell in quick succession, the impetus swung firmly back in favour of the tourists. Smart finally found an able partner in Nasir Hameed and the two went about restoring the HKCA team's fortunes. Hameed finally fell with his score on 51 while Smart went on to register an even 100 - both batsmen dismissed by Moondeep Mangela. Some late hitting by Najeeb Amar (17) and Zain Abbas (10*) wasn't quite enough to lift the HKCA XI to victory. Instead they fell 16 runs short of their final target.

Despite the second loss, the team will be pleased with their improved performance against quality opposition.

Scorecard: HKCA XI v. Air India, KCC - 1 April 2007

Related Link: Air India Tour to Hong Kong