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South China Morning Post
16-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Coach takes blame as Hong Kong lose to Italy, vows to help city to ‘next level'
Simon Willis shouldered responsibility for Hong Kong's damaging seven-wicket loss to Italy on Sunday, but said he was 'fully up' for the fight of trying to elevate the city team to the 'next level'. After also going down heavily to Uganda on Thursday, Hong Kong have lost significant ground on the top two in Cricket World Cup Challenge League B to leave their hopes of recapturing ODI status all but over for another five years. The final Challenge League leg, where World Cup qualifying progress is also at stake, is in Tanzania next year. Englishman Willis said his team's display against Italy was symptomatic of 'the past six months, when we've not been good enough in big games'. In a repeat of their batting effort against Uganda, when they folded from 38 for 0 to 56 for five, Hong Kong wasted a promising start. From 55 for one, they slumped to 85 for five, with probably only Nizakat Khan able to attribute his downfall to misfortune, after he received a marginal LBW decision. 'We had a great start, but lost wickets when we didn't need to,' Willis said. 'That gave Italy momentum and hope, and we were always struggling with 146 on the board. Hong Kong try to run out Marcus Campopiano (right) in the match at Tin Kwong Road. Photo: Dickson Lee '[Batting collapses are] down to pressure. Sometimes, the guys take on too much and don't realise it's just another game.'
South China Morning Post
13-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘Nervous' Hong Kong's ODI and World Cup hopes hurt by collapse in Uganda defeat
'Nervous' Hong Kong were outplayed in a bruising 76-run loss to Uganda on Thursday that has left their ODI and 2027 World Cup hopes dangling by a thread. Chasing 277 to win at Kowloon Cricket Club, Hong Kong collapsed from 38 for 0 to 56 for five in a catastrophic 10.4-over spell. Uganda's Alpesh Ramjani, who started the procession when he trapped Martin Coetzee in front, claimed four for 18, to add to his rollicking 68 with the bat. While jubilant Uganda strengthened their grip on Cricket World Cup Challenge League B's top spot, Hong Kong were left to consider the ramifications of what Simon Willis, the head coach, called 'a disappointing day at the office'. Willis refused to label Sunday's meeting with second-placed Italy a 'must win', but defeat against the team that thumped them by 155 runs in November's opening leg would, in all probability, condemn Hong Kong to one-day international exile for another five years. Hong Kong had comfortably beaten Singapore and Bahrain, before Wednesday's match against whipping-boys Tanzania was abandoned. And Willis suspected the raised stakes against top-two rivals Uganda had 'played on some people's minds'.
South China Morning Post
11-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘Fearless' Hong Kong set for key 48 hours in ODI status and 2027 World Cup quest
A 'confident and fearless' Hong Kong are bracing themselves for two critical matches in the space of 48 hours, after recent victories over Singapore and Bahrain kept them firmly in contention for an all-important Cricket World Cup Challenge League B top-two spot. The city team will be expected to brush aside Tanzania on Wednesday, before a rapid turnaround for Thursday's crunch meeting with second-placed Uganda. Head coach Simon Willis, whose side sit third in the six-team table, scoffed at the idea of resting key players against basement-dwelling Tanzania. 'We'll always play our strongest team – we're here to win and to dominate,' Willis said. 'Net run rate could be a factor [in determining top-two finishers], so we have to maintain our focus and concentration, and do a professional job, then think about Uganda when that comes.' Hong Kong have won four straight matches, a sequence that began with tri-series victories over Bahrain and Uganda, after Nasrulla Rana came in from the cold to plunder 15 wickets in the four games, at an astonishing average of 9.27. In 38.2 overs, the rejuvenated fast bowler has conceded 139 runs for a stingy economy rate of 3.64, compared with a career List A figure of 6.88.
South China Morning Post
09-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Coetzee roars back into form as Hong Kong blitz Bahrain in Challenge League B
Martin Coetzee scorched back into form with an unbeaten century, and prolific opening partner Anshuman Rath scored 79, as Hong Kong comfortably chased down 183 for a nine-wicket Cricket World Cup Challenge League B victory over Bahrain on Sunday. Hong Kong suffocated the visitors in the first half of their innings, and when Aizaz Khan gleefully claimed the prized wicket of Asif Ali, caught behind for 40, Bahrain were in no man's land on 89 for four from 32.3 overs. Sohail Ahmed bashed six maximums in an undefeated 70 to lift his team to the respectability of 182 all out from 49.4 overs. The tiny Kowloon Cricket Club boundaries weigh conditions in the batsmen's favour, but off-spinner Ehsan Khan bowled with control and guile to claim three for 17 from 10 overs. Nasrulla Rana bagged three wickets, while Aizaz Khan, who ended a last-wicket stand of 31 when he trapped No 11 Imran Khan in front, finished with two. Simon Willis, the Hong Kong head coach, said: 'We are going in the right direction. We probably dropped more catches than for a long time, but our bowling in the opening 30 overs was outstanding. We hit our lengths, kept it simple and set the tone for the day. 'Wickets came because Bahrain had to play shots. Apart from a few overs at the end, it was an excellent bowling performance.' Hong Kong wicket keeper Zeeshan Ali (left) looks on as Bahrain's unbeaten Sohail Ahmed bats. Photo: Dickson Lee The accurate new-ball duo of Khan and Rizwan Butt posed problems for Coetzee and Rath early in Hong Kong's reply.
South China Morning Post
08-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘Sky the limit' for Hong Kong cricketers, with Bahrain next on World Cup quest
Former captain Anshy Rath said the 'sky is the limit' for Hong Kong's improving cricket, as they prepare for Sunday's Cricket World Cup Challenge League B clash with Bahrain. Opener Rath scored an unbeaten 90 in testing conditions to ease Hong Kong past Singapore at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground on Thursday. The accomplished left-hander also made a skilful 107 in last week's tri-series final win over Uganda, too. Rath shared out credit for Hong Kong's three-match winning run, however, pointing to recent performances across the top of the order, and the control and menace of a bowling attack that has taken 30 wickets in three games. While acknowledging that Hong Kong might have to be 'smarter' when confronted with Kowloon Cricket Club's tiny boundaries this weekend, Rath said that 'if we keep doing what we are doing, the sky is the limit'. 'Our seamers have been fantastic with their lengths and they have been brilliantly supported by the spinners,' Rath added. 'If they continue that way, it doesn't matter what wickets we play on.' Left-hander Rath steadies himself to play a delivery from Bahrain seamer Imran Khan. Photo: Dickson Lee With the ball zipping around early in his past two innings, Rath said he 'had to swallow my pride and ego, and play the ball on its merits for 10-to-15 overs'.
