WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016 SPORTS Inside ‘cut-throat world’ of game’s minnows HONG KONG: Elite cricket is a tough game “There’s huge pressure on games of cricket.” tough, on-field targets. “Sport’s a game, “It’s an ex-landfill so it will be quite convex. streams with tournaments such as the Hong but spare a thought for the sport’s minnows, Hong Kong play in the tier below the Test sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. So we won’t be playing high-class cricket on Kong Sixes or the T20 Blitz, which featured ex- who have to contend with makeshift facilities, nations, but relegation to the next division Generally business (is)... very rarely linked there,” dead-panned the CEO. Australia captain Michael Clarke in its inaugu- scant funding and the chronic threat of finan- could cost $750,000 in funding, plus other intrinsically to sometimes single results.” ral edition in May. cial ruin. At a small ground in the heart of support for tours and training, Cutler said. Hong Kong’s battle to survive and thrive is Match-fixing approaches Even as those tournaments take root, with bustling Hong Kong, the soothing sight of an It gives games between associate nations not helped by the scarcity of cricket grounds Such conditions pose problems when the hugely successful Hong Kong Sevens rugby afternoon’s play belies the very real risks fac- an edge not found at Test level, with a team’s in a densely populated city with some of the Hong Kong play abroad: not used to bigger tournament as their model, Cutler says he wish- ing cricket’s associate, or second-tier, nations. future and the livelihoods of players and offi- world’s highest property prices. fields, their batsmen have to hit harder than es cricket had more government support in Hong Kong have risen as high as 10th in cials sometimes at stake. Their three-match series against Papua usual to reach the boundary. “It sometimes semi-autonmous Hong Kong, a Chinese the world in Twenty20 cricket and in 2014 Kenya, Canada, the Netherlands and New Guinea was played at Mission Road, does play on our minds with the small “Special Administrative Region” of seven million they beat hosts Bangladesh in front of a Bermuda have all felt the pain of reduced cir- close to the heart of the teeming Mong Kok boundaries, especially when we play interna- people. “We have a Hong Kong side that’s per- stunned Chittagong Stadium at the World cumstances after losing their ODI status and district and skirted by a high-rise apartment tional games with the boundaries being forming at the highest level. We’re ranked 14th T20. Yet just a couple of untimely defeats finding themselves unable to win it back. block. The former British colony’s cricketers much bigger,” said Hong Kong batsman in the world in one-day cricket, we’ve been could cost them hundreds of thousands of often play on cramped fields belonging to Anshuman Rath. “We tend to get away with it ranked as high as 10 in T20 cricket,” he said. dollars in International Cricket Council fund- ‘TOUGH OLD WORLD’ schools and the police force, where they use here because of the small boundary... just 45 “It’s something for Hong Kong to be proud ing, setting them back years. Tim Cutler, “If you drop the ball, you can see the effect artificial or roll-out wickets. metres (49 yards), hitting sixes all day long.” of, and we should celebrate it.” At least Cricket Cricket Hong Kong’s 34-year-old CEO from it’s had on teams like Canada and Kenya, “Some of those grounds we can only play Low wages can also make players vulnera- Hong Kong isn’t having to pay for any Australia, is painfully aware that a run of poor Bermuda as well,” Cutler said. from one end, just because of how small the ble, as seen when Hong Kong all-rounder smashed windows. form by the national team could mean the “So it’s a tough old world, associate cricket. grounds are,” Cutler said. Cricket Hong Kong Irfan Ahmed was banned for 30 months this At the Mission Road ground, the apart- end of his job. “It’s such a cut-throat world, I know if we don’t stay up in the World Cricket recently took over the lease at a former land- year for failing to report match-fixing ment block flanking the boundary has so far associate cricket,” Cutler said, as Hong Kong League then my job’s in jeopardy as well... fill site at Gin Drinkers Bay, whose Cantonese approaches. Cutler, who was appointed last remained unscathed. “I don’t think anyone played Papua New Guinea earlier this month. there’s a lot of funding linked to some single, name translates as “Rubbish Bay”. year, is working to establish new revenue can hit it that far,” said Rath. — AFP Kiwis win after final-session as Pakistan collapse HAMILTON: New Zealand took nine wick- captain Azhar Ali said they tried to pull out ets in a dramatic final session of the sec- of the chase and play for a draw when ond Test against Pakistan to win by 130 Sarfraz Ahmed was run out to make it runs in Hamilton yesterday and sweep the 199for 4 but they could not hold on. series 2-0. It was New Zealand’s first series “We thought that’s it because the new win over Pakistan since 1985 and a ball” was due, he said. “We did not want relieved captain Kane Williamson called it our lower order to be exposed to that but one of the most remarkable Test finishes at the end if did happen and unfortunately he had ever played in. we could not get the result we wanted.” “Without a doubt,” he said, admitting he The match edged towards a cliff-hanger felt Pakistan had a chance to win when finish before Tim Southee removed they started the final session needing 211 Pakistan’s leading run scorer Sami Aslam for off 204 balls. “You take nine wickets in a 91. That started the collapse which saw session, they’re all pretty big moments... eight wickets fall for 49 in 20 overs with from the feeling at tea time to the feeling Neil Wagner taking the final three for no now is pretty contrasting and will go down runs in just six deliveries. as a great Test victory.” Pakistan were faced with an imposing LATE CHARGE, THEN COLLAPSE 369-run target but set themselves up for a New Zealand’s series win means run-a-ball slog when they reached tea on Pakistan fall from second to fourth in the the final day at 158 for 1. At that stage world rankings while New Zealand move Williamson began to question whether he up to sixth. Pakistan were left to ponder had declared New Zealand’s second whether they left their charge too late. innings too early at 313 for 5. “It does cross Azhar Ali (58 off 161 deliveries) and Aslam your mind, but at the point of declaration (91 off 238) laid the platform with a record we did know that the opposition needs a Pakistan fourth innings opening stand of sniff,” he said. “They tried to chase it and we 131 but it lasted 60 overs before Azhar was were able to get opportunities.” Pakistan dismissed. The arrival of Babar Azam was a signal to lift the pace but the pitch was still offering support to the bowlers on the fifth day. Millennium Azhar (58) played on trying to hit leg-spin- ner Mitchell Santner out of the ground and Cup - 2016 Azam (16) went in similar fashion fourth ball after tea. KUWAIT: Kuwait’s most awaited ten- Aslam, trying to raise the tempo having nis ball cricket tournament, The reached his highest Test score, mistimed a Millennium Cup which will be in drive off Southee to Williamson at mid-off. action starting November @ grounds Sarfraz Ahmed was run out for 19 off 21 in Mirqab and Salmiya. First time in balls and Asad Shafiq did not get off the MOHALI: India’s Parthiv Patel plays a shot for a boundary on the fourth day of the third cricket Test match against England, in Mohali, India, the history of tennis cricket in Kuwait, mark. Veteran Younis Khan, on his 39th yesterday. — AP we will be seeing a tournament of birthday, struggled to 11 before he fell lbw such rewarding kinds. This tourna- to Southee. ment will be witnessing Kuwait’s top Colin de Grandhomme snapped up India brush aside teams participating and working their Sohail Khan for eight before Wagner way towards clinching the Millennium removed Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz CUP 2016. This tournament is being and Imran Khan all without scoring. It was organized by one of the prominent a Test that had begun in Pakistan’s favour tennis cricket club in Kuwait, Alida’s after they won the toss on a lush green sur- England for 2-0 lead Cricket Club and is also being part- face and celebrated with a wicket in the nered by NCB National Certification first over. But that bright start faded rapid- Bureau. On behalf of Alida’s Cricket ly and even the loss of more than four ses- MOHALI: India registered a comprehensive unhurt. He was dismissed off the next ball, fend- from the deep. Ravichandran Ashwin (3-81) and Club & PAT Group we hope that you sions to rain could save them.