2004 Cathay Pacific / Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes - Day One Review

Hong Kong, November 7, 2004. Cricket fans were treated to a feast of top cricket on the first day of the 2004 Cathay Pacific / Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes at Kowloon Cricket Club in fine and warm conditions.

Whilst hot favourites England and Pakistan showed their class with victories over spirited opposition, it was UAE who proved the surprise package, scoring wins over South Africa and the somewhat disappointing India outfits. One guesses though that their fine run may come to an end in the first match on day two when they come up against Pakistan.

England, Pakistan and UAE all go into the second day's play with unblemished records – England having polished off Hong Kong, Kenya and Sri Lanka with relative ease, whilst Pakistan had to work hard for the points against India and South Africa.

England left it to the penultimate ball to repel the challenges from Hong Kong and Sri Lanka in two of the closest matches of the day, though with wickets in hand, they seemingly had plenty in reserve.

The near capacity crowd enjoyed some world class action. Ninety-nine sixes were struck on the first day's play with South African's Gerald Dros and Johannes Van Der Wath leading the charge with eight and seven apiece. But the South African's will be disappointed not to have progressed to the Cup stage of the competition, failing to capitalise on the excellent batting of Dros, who was twice retired not out having reached the mandatory 31 runs against UAE (8 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes) and India (7 balls, 5 sixes).

As always, the Pakistan versus India match got the crowd on its feet. The match got off to a sensational start when Debashish Mohanty trapped Imran Nazir LBW off the first ball of the match. And when Amir Bashir also fell to a first ball duck, it looked like an upset was on the cards. However, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi led the lower order (if there is such a thing in Sixes cricket) resistance, making the highest individual score of the day with 38 runs off only 12 balls. He was ably supported by Yasir Arafat who finished on 32 not out as Pakistan racked up 87 runs off their 5 overs. The total proved too big for the Indains, especially after Riaz Afridi's excellent over in which he claimed the wickets of Mahendra Dhoni and Pravin Amre whilst only conceding 5 runs.

For the defending champions, Darren Maddy has proven a star with ball. His 3-7 quashed the Hong Kong resistance while his 1-9 against Sri Lanka kept their total in check. Dimitri Mascarenhas has been in irresistible form with the bat, scoring 80 runs in three matches without losing his wicket. 

Some of the outfielding was spectacular - a couple catches by Kabir Ali and Johannes Van Der Wath in particular had the fans in raptures.

All in all it was an enthralling day's cricket, with the crowd being entertained by a bevy of Bollywood beauties between breaks in the play.

[Scorecards]

Travis Pittman, Hong Kong

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