Published: Mar 08, 2017, 03:38 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 08, 2017, 03:38 PM (IST)
Dwayne Smith’s 31-ball century guided Kowloon Cantons to a comfortable 8-wicket win over City Kaitak at the Mission Road Ground, Hong Kong. Smith was well supported by fellow West Indian Marlon Samuels, who is playing this tournament as he was dropped by the national side for the series against England. Samuels played second fiddle to Smith. Smith brought up his fifty off just 16 deliveries and his hundred came in the next 15 balls. Samuels too used the long handle, but got to his fifty off just 31 balls. The City Kaitak never looked in any position to win it right from the outset.
Smith scored 28 off the very first over and the Cantons never looked back since. As many as 6 bowlers were used by Kaitak’s skipper Aizaz Khan, but they managed to pick up just a couple of wickets. Smith started the innings with a six and Samuels finished it with one. City Kaitak were off to a poor start with the bat after they were asked to bat first. Tillakaratne Dilshan was dismissed for a second-ball duck and they soon found themselves reduced to 68 for 4 in 9.1 overs. Opener Kyle Coetzer and Chris Jordan, who came in at No. 6 fought back well. They added 125 for the sixth wicket and ensured that Kaitak finished on 193 for 6 in their 20 overs. However, Jordan could not repeat his heroics with the ball. The English all-rounder went for 39 runs from his 4 overs, claiming the wicket of Scottish cricketer Calum MacLeod.
Skipper Aizaz Khan was the most economic bowler, giving away 28 runs in his 3 overs. With this win the Cantons are off the mark in the tournament. They will take on Hung Hom JD Jaguars on Friday.
off just 31 BALLS! Dwayne Smith take a bow @KowloonCantons #HKT20Blitz pic.twitter.com/q34hZdyhmq
— Kath Loughnan (@KathLoughnanFOX) March 8, 2017
Brief Scores:
City Kaitak 199 for 6 in 20 overs (Kyle Coetzer 87, Chrus Jordan 75*; Yasir Arafat 2 for 43) lost to Kowloon Cantons 204 for 2 in 14.3 overs (Dwayne Smith 121*, Samuels 59*; Riyad Emrit 1 for 45, Chris Jordan 1 for 39) by 8 wickets.
