India thrashes Hong Kong

India humiliated Hong Kong by six wickets with two overs to spare, registering their first win in the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2001 being played at Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, on Saturday.

India won the toss and asked Hong Kong to bat first. The first over was bowled by Sunil Joshi (1-0-11-0); Hussain Butt helped himself to a couple of boundaries. Debasis Mohanty bowled the second over, which went for 16 runs; Butt struck three boundaries. The third over was bowled by Hemang Badani (1-0-15-0); Butt (32 off 12 balls) was again in action knocking a six and a four.

Rahul Sharma got better of Robin Singh, smashing three fours and a six to take 20 runs off the fourth over. The final over was a better one for the Indians; Nikhil Chopra kept things tight and gave away just eight runs. Hong Kong finished at 70 without loss in five overs with Sharma unbeaten on 22 off eight balls and Stuart Brew 14 not out off 10 balls.

Skipper Brew bowled the first over, which was an expensive one (1-0-25-0); Chopra hit a four and a six, while Badani helped himself with a couple of fours and a six. Najeeb Amar bowled a tight second over (1-0-12-0), Chopra hitting a couple of fours.

Chopra launched an assault on Sharma, cracking a four and two sixes to go to 36* (10 balls, 4 fours, 3 sixes) and retire not out. Robin Singh came in and hit the first ball he faced for a mighty six. The next ball was blasted behind square for a four. The final ball disappeared over square leg fence for a massive six. Sharma bowled the most expensive over of the day so far (1-0-32-0).

India went past the target off the first ball of the fourth over, which was a wide. Robin Singh remained 16* (3 balls, 2 sixes, 1 four) and Badani 17* (5 balls, 1 six, 2 fours).