England retain sixes title
England emphatically retained their Hong Kong Sixes title by passing Sri Lanka's total of 61 in just 3.1 overs after Kabir Ali smashed 34 off 11 balls in the final
Cricinfo staff
24-Aug-2005
 |
|
Accurate bowling from England stifled Sri Lanka's batsmen, with only two Sri Lankans reaching double figures. Graham Napier conceding just six runs and took one wicket in his one over.
Matthew Maynard, England's captain, was clear about how the victory was achieved: "We bowled magnificently. Our bowlers won the game for us." Only Pakistan, in 2002, and England themselves in 1994, have won the Hong Kong Sixes in successive years before.
To reach to final England had beaten United Arab Emirates by 15-runs in their semi-final. Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan to by 10 runs in the other semi, as Dilruwan Perera, an offspinner, took a hat-trick.
In the final of the Plate Competition, for the sides that were knocked out yesterday, Hong Kong's total of 135 proved too much for Kenya, who lost by 50 runs.