Hong Kong-based cricket team Hung See this weekend found success in their matches in Taiwan, even if none of the results went their way.
Hung See played the Chairman’s XI on Saturday morning, the Daredevils that afternoon and PCCT yesterday, with all three home teams winning.
The team for Chinese players at the Happy Valley-based Craigengower Cricket Club sends teams on tour to “spread the game of cricket.” This weekend was Hung See’s second trip to Taiwan after visiting Tainan in 2016.
Photo courtesy of the Craigengower Cricket Club
“The club has been traveling to all parts of the world since 1982 and the annual tradition continues [with the Taiwan trip at the weekend] not only for the various men’s sides, but also our women’s side Fung Wong,” Craigengower president Albert Wong said in a message in the team’s tour booklet.
“I sincerely hope that the game of cricket can grow and that Craigengower will be remembered for [helping to plant] the seeds of success for the game” in Taiwan, Wong said.
About half the team arrived in Taiwan on Thursday, and the following day, they helped run a tournament in Yilan County for Taiwanese children who had never played before. With some coaching to straighten bowling arms and for batters to protect their stumps, the four teams completed six matches. By the end some of them were playing blazing cover drives for four.
On Saturday morning Hung See took on the Chairman’s XI, captained by Anthony Liu, in a “2xT10” match — a T20 where each side has two 10-over innings. In the first innings, the touring side sent in the children from the families in their touring party, with Daniel Lo, and Luca and Anzo Wong contributing to the first-innings total of 24-6.
In their opening innings, the Chairman’s XI showed no mercy, plundering 112-1, with Adeel Ahmad Jamil hitting 59 not out. In their next innings the Chairman’s XI sent in their three Taiwanese players — Mori Hayashi, Alan Chang and Brian Lin. They were playing cricket for the first time, although Hayashi defied his inexperience by putting the first delivery he faced into the fence for four.
Teenager Henil Doshi added 26 not out as the Chairman’s XI piled on another 77-3. Hung See replied with 86-1 for a loss by 79 runs.
In the afternoon, the Daredevils won by 30 runs, with captain Duane Christie (61) and Andrew Carrick (47) doing the bulk of the scoring.
Christie said that his battle against “part-time” bowler Bobby Chan was enjoyable.
“I loved it,” the South African said.
Chan — who has represented the Hong Kong Dragons at the East Asia Cup along with tour teammates Louis Chan and tour manager Anthony Marrin — showed his pedigree with the bat, scoring 51 not out, while Kelvin Choy blasted 63.
Yesterday, the tourists were overrun by PCCT, who recognized the threat that Bobby Chan and Choy posed, which they collectively focused on, dismissing both cheaply in the visitors’ failed hunt for 181 to win.
At a post-match ceremony yesterday, Marrin praised the frugality of the PCCT bowlers, Husnain Mohammed (5-28) in particular, and said that all the teams were welcome to visit Hong Kong for return matches.
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