HONG KONG meet Singapore in the final of the MBf Tuanku Ja'afar Cup today at the Hong Kong Cricket Club.
This was expected. So far the annual quadrangular tournament has run to form. Nothing untoward has happened as the territory have merrily rolled their opponents aside.
Yesterday's 208 run hammering of Thailand followed other massive wins in the preliminary round over Singapore (by 107 runs) and Malaysia (by 151 runs).
At the moment, it seems that Hong Kong's worst enemy can be found within their own ranks - poor running between the wickets is the cause for concern and should be addressed immediately if the territory are to make a realistic challenge against stiffer opposition in the future.
Looking at the breakdown of the territory's three innings in this tournament, most of the runs have come from boundaries. Against Malaysia, 162 of the 271 total came off fours and sixes. Against Thailand yesterday, it was 170 of the 317 total. Only against Singapore was the trend reversed with boundaries accounting for only 132 of the 282 total.
The bowling the local batsmen have faced so far has been mediocre, thus resulting in a bounty of boundaries. Will this be the case, say, when Hong Kong tour Bangladesh over Chinese New Year? Will the Bangladeshi bowlers be so accommodating? Highly unlikely.