A shell-shocked Hong Kong will have to lift their game a 110 per cent if they are to keep alive any hopes of entering the second stage Super League in the ICC Trophy. Beginning their campaign to qualify for the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Hong Kong were thrashed by 181 runs in their opening preliminary round game by Denmark on Friday at the Maple Leaf ground in Toronto.
'We were totally outplayed,' said coach Andy Moles.'We under-performed in all areas of the game. If we want to be competitive in this tournament, then we have to play with more discipline and show more application when the going gets tough.'
Denmark, seeded third in the 24-team tournament, posted a massive 284 for six wickets after being asked to bat by Hong Kong captain Stewart Brew. The foundation for the total was set by openers Carsten Pedersen (103) and Amjad Khan (73) who figured in a 136-run stand which seemed to take the fight out of Hong Kong.
Luck favoured the Danes with Khan fortunate not to be out on two occasions. The first was when he was bowled off a no-ball in the 12th over when he was 28 and the score 61, and then being dropped an over later by Mohammed Zubair fielding at long-on. Off-spinner Jawaid Iqbal was the unlucky bowler both times.
'It was a poor display on the field. We just cannot afford to drop catches and that chance by Khan was a regulation catch,' said manager Glyn Davies.
Brew, who waited until midway in the innings to bring himself on, made the breakthrough when he had Khan caught behind by Mark Davies in the 27th over. By then the Denmark innings had a healthy complexion to it.
Pedersen continued to punish the numerous loose deliveries then combined with Soren Vestergaard (47) to put on 75 for the third wicket and when the latter was out in the 39th over - Alex French taking the first of his three catches - the score was already an imposing 211.