Kowloon Cricket Club Infidels' hopes of overhauling Sunday League leaders Pakistan Association all but evaporated yesterday as they slumped to a 161-run defeat against San Miguel Optimists.
A lethal six-wicket display from Optimists' Adrian Ashman sealed the Infidels' fate in a game which they will feel they could - and should - have won.
If ever there was a match where a team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, this was it.
Having won the toss at the Hong Kong Cricket Club, Infidels promptly put the home side in to bat and soon had their opponents in trouble as the Optimists top order collapsed.
Ashman, skipper Stewart Brew and number three Andy Booth all fell cheaply and with the scoreboard quickly reading 47 for six, Infidels must have thought the match was theirs for the taking. But with few other options left, Optimists went on the attack, with middle order batsman Aaron Clarke (54) and Jeremy Collard (79) leading the fightback. Tim Cook (37) and James Callow (23) also made valuable contributions to haul their side back into contention.
Optimists' cause was also helped by some wayward bowling and sloppy fielding from their opponents.
