Hussain Butt's 83 cannot save Hong Kong against Sri Lankan youngsters

A fine knock of 83 by Hussain Butt wasn't enough to prevent Hong Kong from slipping to a four-wicket defeat at the hands of the Sri Lanka Under-19s in their opening game in Colombo yesterday.

Butt was the only batsman to stand tall as Hong Kong struggled to 182 for nine, a target which was easily overhauled by Sri Lanka's next generation of players who made it home with 13 overs to spare.

"It is disappointing that no one else put their hands up to be counted," said Hong Kong coach Charlie Burke. "Butt's innings was tailor-made for some someone else to join him and create a big partnership but none of the others managed to do so."

Things will only get harder for Hong Kong on their brief three-game visit to Colombo which is part of the build-up to the ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament to be played at home later this month - for next up is Kumar Sangakkara's Nondescript Cricket Club.

Whether the Sri Lankan test and one-day captain will figure in the NCC lineup is moot, but Burke believes the home team will put out their strongest outfit.

"This is what we wanted, tough competition. Today we faced a very young and talented side, who at this tender age knew instinctively what to do on the field. I hope our guys learned a few lessons," Burke said.

Hong Kong was struggling at 77 for four after 30 overs. Vice-captain Courtney Kruger was out for the fourth ball of the morning leg before and that set the tone for a defensive approach early in the innings. Only two runs was scored in the first six overs. Mark Chapman's defiant 13 took 70 balls, and it was only later in the innings that the runs flowed freely

"With Butt batting solidly at one end, it gave the opportunity for someone to join him and figure in a big partnership but the biggest we managed was 46. The lack of partnerships was our downfall. If we had managed to get to around 230, it would have been a competitive score," Burke lamented.

Batting has always been Hong Kong's bugbear and it was no different as the Sri Lankan spinners spun a tight web. Poor shot selection also compounded the problem.

"At least five guys threw away their wickets after getting reasonable starts. We had no plan against their spinners," Burke said.

In the bowling department too, Hong Kong's opening pair of Aizaz Khan and Adil Mehmood failed to impress. The latter grabbed a wicket in his first over when Irfan Ahmed caught a blinder at square leg, but after that early setback, the Sri Lankan batsmen set about attacking the small target with relish.

The pick of the Hong Kong bowlers was skipper and left-arm spinner Najeeb Amar and part-time leg-spinner Nizakat Khan.