Hong Kong, Nepal score surprise wins in Hong Kong Sixes 2024

The Hong Kong Sixes 2024 started off with a bang at the Tin Kwong Road Cricket Ground as Day 1 of the tournament throwing some surprises.

Host Hong Kong defeated New Zealand by 27 runs in their second match while Nepal stunned England by six wickets.

Captain and wicket-keeper batter Sundeep Jora was the architect of this win for Nepal as he struck a fifty in just 12 deliveries before retiring. Opener Lokesh Bam (20* off 11) and Rashid Khan (21* off 5) later took the side home in a convincing manner.

Earlier, batting first, England lost Alex Davies for a first ball-zero but experienced campaigners Ravi Bopara and Samit Patel provided the resistance with a partnership of 60 runs. Bopara scored 49 off 12 balls. Patel, on the other side, made a contribution of 39 off 17 as England eventually put up 97/6 in 5.5 overs. 

Pratish GC got three wickets for Nepal while Narayan Joshi, Lokesh Bam and Bibek Yadav picked up one apiece.

Hong Kong had earlier lost to South Africa by three wickets in the first match.

The encounter between Bangladesh and Oman was nothing less than a treat for the spectators as the Bangla tigers put up a big score of 147/0 in 6 overs. Jishan Alam scored 55 off 12 while captain Mohammad Saifuddin struck 55 off 12 before retiring.

Later, the Bangladesh bowler restricted their opponents to 113/5 to win the match by 34 runs.

The highlight of the day was the classic clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. The Men in Blue scored 119/2 in 6 overs after batting first. Bharat Chipli top-scored for the side with 53 off 16 before retiring while captain Robin Uthappa notched up 31 off 8.

But it was a total dominance from the Pakistan batters as they chased down the target by 6 wickets and with one over to spare. Asif Ali played a key role as his brisk knock of 55 off 14 laid the foundation for a comprehensive win. Asif Ali retired after scoring a fifty and rest of the job was done by Muhammad Akhlaq (40* off 12) and Faheem Ashraf (22* off 5).

In another fixture Australia were on a roll against England. The Aussies posted 147/1 in 6 overs, courtesy Dan Christian's 51 off 13 before he retired, Sam Heazlett's unbeaten 41 off 11 and Alex Ross' 27* off 7.

England, in reply didn’t really get the start they needed and lost wickets regularly. Ethan Brookes tried to get England back in the hunt with 35* off 8 but his late surge didn't really help as the side was eventually restricted to 112/5 in 6 overs. Jack Wood picked up two wickets for his team.

South Africa had a brilliant start to the campaign and they followed it with yet another convincing win against New Zealand. The Proteas bowled out the Blackcaps for 41 with Matthew Boast picking up three wickets for 3 runs and JJ Smuts returned with bowling figures of 2/2 in one over.

The South African side then chased down the target by 5 wickets in two overs.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were up against each other in the final match of the first day. The Lankan bowler put up a stunning show as they defended a target of 108 runs as Bangladesh could only manage 89/3.

Mohammad Saifuddin remained unbeaten at 42 off 17 for his side. Lahiru Samarakoon scalped a couple of wickets. Earlier, Sri Lanka put up 107/3 in 6 overs after Lahiru Madushanka remained not out at 48 off 17.

South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka won both their games on Day 1 and have four points each in the kitty.

Cricket, Hong Kong Sixes, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Robin Uthappa