‘Fearless’ Hong Kong face crunch clashes in pursuit of ODI status and 2027 World Cup spot
City team aiming to extend four-match winning run in critical Challenge League B meetings with Tanzania and Uganda on successive days
A “confident and fearless” Hong Kong team are braced for critical matches on successive days, after victories over Singapore and Bahrain kept them in contention for a 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.