Sai Wan take over from Crusaders
LITTLE Sai Wan beat title rivals Crusaders by 79 runs yesterday to take over at the top of the Hongkong Saturday League.
Sai Wan picked up a maximum 12 points from the victory at So Kon Po while restricting previous leaders Crusaders to two bonus points.
Nomads came out on top in a high-scoring match against Merchants at Diocesan Boys' School, but their nine points were not enough for them to go top of the table.
Sai Wan piled up 183 for six in 33 overs thanks to Mike Mehaffey's 63 and a 53 from Adnan Butt, who hit four sixes. Ian Barker contributed a useful unbeaten 21.
Sai Wan's bowling proved far too strong for Crusaders, who were dismissed for 104.
Gopal Lalchandani took three for 22 and there were two wickets apiece for Alex Price, Simon Miller-Jones and Patrick Lobo.
Sai Wan increased their points tally from 120 to 132 to move five points clear of Crusaders, who led the table with 125 points before the start of play. Nomads are second on 130 points.
Merchants' batsmen went on a run spree, hitting 7.3 runs an over to make 226 for two in 30 overs.
Ghulzar was 61 not out and Malik 71 not out.
But Nomads were equal to the task on a generous batting wicket, Steve Foster scoring an unbeaten 128 in his side's total of 229 for four in 29.4 overs.
Meanwhile, a whirlwind century from Ross Greer swept St George's to an eight-wicket victory over Police Strollers at Mission Road.
After Strollers had scored 152 for seven in 34 overs, Greer struck an unbeaten 106 in his side's reply of 157 for two in 18 overs.
The powerful left-hander crashed 10 sixes and seven fours - a total of 88 in boundaries - and his hundred was scored off 38 balls in 44 minutes. Tony White contributed 23 to an unbroken third-wicket stand of 130.
Kai Tak maintained the pressure on the leading pack with a 10-wicket win over Tartars at Kowloon Cricket Club.
Tartars were bowled out for 71 and Kai Tak easily reached their target without losing a wicket.
