Sai Wan miss top marks for declaration
A BRAVE declaration by captain Rizwan Farouq failed to win Little Sai Wan the maximum 12 points but kept them narrowly on top of the Saturday league standings.
A painfully slow over rate by Sentinels despite an early start forced Rizwan, who scored 50, to declare Sai Wan's innings at 162 for five after two hours and only 28.5 overs at Sek Kong.
Adnan Butt also scored a half-century, making 54, with Mike Mehaffey contributing 28.
Sai Wan were hoping to use the maximum 35 overs to bowl out Sentinels and gain 12 points.
However, they only succeeded in getting six wickets as Sentinels made little attempt to go for runs in their total of 120.
Sai Wan ended the match with 10 points and now lead Nomads by one point with both teams having one match left.
Nomads gained 11 points in their 77-run victory over Gap Ramblers at the Hongkong Cricket Club.
Nomads scored 201 for five in 34 overs with John Garden hitting 42, Bob Stiller making 52, both supported by useful knocks from Paul Varty (38) and Mike Swift (36).
Ramblers managed only 124 for nine in their 34 overs with Mike Kelly unbeaten on 36.
Tim Davies and Steve Foster were the most successful Nomads bowlers, each taking three wickets.
Sai Wan and Nomads go into their final matches next week needing wins.
Sai Wan face the more difficult task against Witherers at So Kon Po, while Nomads meet lowly Craigengower Cricket Club at Wong Nai Chung Gap Road.
Sai Wan have 154 points from 16 matches with Nomads second on 153.
At Mission Road, Aussie all-rounder Ross Greer followed up his record-breaking 233 not out last weekend with a more conservative 80 in St George's 35-over total of 184 for seven against Merchants.
Greer then took two for 29 as Merchants were dismissed for 83 to give the Saints victory by 101 runs and the maximum 12 points.
Stewart Brew, whose previous Saturday League record of 204 runs was overhauled by Greer last week, shared a first-wicket partnership of 207 with Jason Penrose as the Diocesan Boys' School rattled up 299 for three against Kai Tak at DBS.
Brew hit three sixes and 11 fours in his 100 but was overshadowed by Penrose, whose 155 included eight sixes and 13 fours.
Kai Tak were dismissed for 117 in 31.2 overs, with Nigel Sawrey-Cookson and Alan Burge offering the most resistance with 40 and 36 respectively.
Schoolboy Maurice Ling took three for 11 and Maqsood Khan took two for 14 as DBS captured all 12 points.
Witherers openers Duncan Kilgour (120 not out) and Brian Catton (99) put on a record opening stand for the side with 221 against Centaurs at So Kon Po. It was Kilgour's second unbeaten ton in successive weeks after his 107 not out against Saracens the previous Saturday but Catton fell one run short of his century, caught on the boundary by Alan Ruxton off Mike Peck.
Witherers eventually compiled 241 for two in the 35 overs.
Centaurs were restricted to 181 for eight in their 35 overs, giving Witherers victory by 60 runs and earning them 11 points.
Dennis Way took three wickets for Witherers with Matthew Johnson snapping up two for 18.
Hongkong University had no trouble overhauling Islanders' 140 for nine in 35 overs at King George V School.
Phil Glenwright (68 not out) and Mike Speak (58 retired) carrying them to victory inside 27 overs without loss.
David Wilson top-scored for Islanders with 40, while Krish Chandran added 24 and Chris Forse an unbeaten 20. Anand Asundi took three wickets for 14 runs for the University.
