A solid all-round performance from Hong Kong saw Stewart Brew's side get off to a winning start in the opening round of the Tunku Ja'afar Cup at the Kowloon Cricket Club yesterday.
Although Brew's team were pushed all the way by a President's XI side mischievously looking to score an upset against their Hong Kong colleagues, in the end Hong Kong had too much depth, and disciplined bowling saw them to safety.
Hong Kong had started strongly enough, and although Paul Hutchinson scored an early breakthrough for the President's XI when he claimed Hong Kong opener Anthony Booth for 11, Brew and number three Hashmi Ali fought back with fine knocks of 40 and 58 respectively.
Infidels' Nick Waters, batting at number four, continued Hong Kong's handy start with a useful knock but was denied his half-century after clipping to Jignesh Tailor off Richard Nuttall for 42.
Although Mark Davies fell for a duck, Ravi Sujanani (26) and Salim Malik, with an unbeaten 23, held up the Hong Kong tail well and the SAR finished their 50-over innings on 263 for seven.
In response, the President's XI set about chasing the Hong Kong total with vigour, and with Mohammed Zubair having a rare off day, openers Nassir Hameed and Ilyas Gul soon started punishing the Hong Kong attack in a magnificent 140-run opening partnership.