DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz Match Reports

May 27th – 1st Match

The inaugural DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz started with a bang as the Hung Hong JD Jaguars needed a Super Over to see off the Lantau Galaxy Riders.

With the match having been reduced to five overs per side due to heavy rain and a wet outfield, the Galaxy Riders opted to bat first, but found themselves in trouble early on as opening batsman Anas Khan and captain Munir Dar were dismissed for six and 12 respectively.

Despite their disappointing start, the Galaxy Riders still managed to finish on 75/2 off their five overs courtesy of an unbeaten 38-run partnership between Mohammad Awais and Waqas Khan.

Awais ended up making 41 off 15 balls, which included five boundaries and three sixes, while Khan remained undefeated on 11 off five deliveries, which included one boundary and a six.

Jangzeb Khan and Uzair Khan picked up one wicket apiece.

Chasing 76 to win, the Jaguars got off to a magnificent start, with Nizakat Khan playing the role of the aggressor, while Australia’s Craig Simmons was rock solid.

While the pair did not give their wickets away, they had a tough time keeping up with the required run rate, which eventually saw them needing 21 runs to win off the final over.

Khan and Simmons managed to score 20 off the first five balls before Khan was run out for 54, which came off 20 balls and included four boundaries and five sixes, off the final ball of the match, which led to a Super Over.

In the Super Over, Khan atoned for his mistake off the last ball of the match by scoring 20 runs to put the Jaguars in prime position to win the first-ever DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz match.

The Jaguars’ UAE import Mohammad Naveed stole the spotlight with his bowling in the Super Over as he took the wicket of Dar and conceded just seven runs from his over to lead his side to an incredible win.

Khan was named Man of the Match.

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May 28th – 2nd Match

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Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

The Woodworm Warriors strolled to an easy nine-wicket win over the Lantau Galaxy Riders in their first match of the DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz.

Nadeem Ahmed wreaked havoc with the ball as he took four wickets, while Australian import Michael Hill made his presence felt with an unbeaten 66.

Opting to bowl first after the match was reduced to 18 overs per side due to a wet outfield, the Warriors cut through the Galaxy Riders’ batting line-up with relative ease. Galaxy Riders captain Munir Dar was the only player to put up some sort of resistance as he made 46 off 25 balls, which included two boundaries and four sixes.

With wicketkeeper Muhammad Khan being the only other batsman to reach double figures, the Galaxy Riders were bowled out for 102.

Ahmed inflicted the most damage with four wickets, while Tanwir Afzal snapped up three, Ehsan Khan got two and Will Sheridan chipped in with one.

Chasing 103 to win, Warriors captain Jamie Atkinson fell early for 11, but Hill and Michael Swart finished things off with an unbeaten 72-run partnership.

Hill ended up making 66 off 28 balls, which included seven boundaries and five sixes, while Swart remained defeated on 21 off 17 deliveries, which included a six.

Neelmani Kumar was the only bowler to take a wicket.

Ahmed was named Man of the Match.

 

May 28th – 3rd Match

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Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

The Kowloon Cantons began their DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz campaign with a narrow two-run win over the Hung Hom JD Jaguars via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Choosing to bat first, the Cantons’ innings was dominated by Ryan Campbell, who smashed a sensational 58, which came off 37 balls and included six boundaries and three sixes.

With the other top order batsman, including former Australia captain Michael Clarke, having failed to have an impact, Simon Cook and Simandeep Singh gave the Cantons a push in the right direction as they made 24 and 20 respectively.

Thanks in large part to Campbell, the Cantons finished on 162/7 off their 20 overs.

Manjinder Singh and Jangzeb Khan picked up two wickets apiece, while Mohammad Naveed, Mudassar Hussain and Ninad Shah took one wicket each.

Chasing 163 to win, the Jaguars lost wickets at regular intervals right from the get-go, but wicketkeeper Chris Carter maintained his cool and took the attack to the Cantons.

However, Carter ended up making 40 off 22 balls, which included six boundaries and a six, before he was dismissed by Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane.

Shortly after Carter’s dismissal, which proved key for the Cantons, the heavens parted and with no further play possible, the Cantons were declared the winners.

The Jaguars ended their innings on 98/5.

Lamichhane and Tanveer Ahmed, who took two wickets in three balls, finished with two wickets apiece, while Cook claimed one.

Campbell was named Man of the Match.

 

May 28th – 4th Match

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Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

The Woodworm Warriors and Kowloon Cantons secured a point each in their clash as it was abandoned due to heavy rain.

Opting to bowl first, the Warriors were put under pressure by Ryan Campbell and Michael Clarke as they amassed a quickfire 49-run partnership off five overs before the rain came.

With the rain refusing to relent, the umpires had no choice but to call the game off.

Campbell finished on 30 off 20 balls, which included four boundaries and two sixes, while Clarke remained undefeated on 15 off 10 deliveries, which included three boundaries.

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May 29th

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Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

All matches were called off due to bad weather and a wet outfield.