Hong Kong Sixes tipped to become ‘fixture’, as sell-out crowd watches Pakistan down India
Hong Kong reach quarter-finals following shock win over New Zealand, who exit the tournament along with hapless England, who lost to Nepal
The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes exploded back into life on Friday, with a day of batting fireworks at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.
Pakistan trounced rivals India in the opening day’s box-office clash, while Hong Kong’s majestic Nizakat Khan deposited New Zealand’s bowlers to all part of the Sixes’ new venue, as his team marched into Saturday’s quarter-finals.
England flopped, however, losing to Nepal, then meekly went down to Ashes foes Australia to join the Kiwis in exiting at the first stage.
Organisers were sufficiently buoyed by a sold-out day-one crowd and vibrant atmosphere, which reached its height during Pakistan’s dismantling of India, to indicate the Sixes could regain a permanent slot in cricket’s stacked calendar.
“This is definitely the best Sixes we’ve had in Hong Kong,” said Burji Shroff, chairman of Cricket Hong Kong, China (CHKC). “The standard of the players has been outstanding, the matches have been great and the crowds have come.
“It’s been a phenomenal first day. We are very confident this is going to become a fixture in future.”
