HONG Kong's fate at the fifth ICC Trophy tournament in Nairobi rests in the hands of outsiders, presuming that the territory win their final group match against West Africa today.
The territory, who should by now have booked a quarter-final berth if they had not lost narrowly to Bermuda on Wednesday, will be looking anxiously at the crucial match between Bermuda and Denmark on Monday.
But before thinking so far ahead, Pat Fordham and Co. know they must first score a convincing win over West Africa, a team comprising of players from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Gambia.
The West Africans on paper appear to be one of the lesser sides amongst the 20 teams participating in this quadrennial competition. But Hong Kong cannot afford to be complacent.
The pressure, in fact, is on Hong Kong who are now being regarded with great respect by the other sides as well as by the media and bookmakers (from no mention to 16-1).
Wins over Denmark and Fiji, and almost pulling off a shocker against Bermuda in a tied game, has resulted in that attitude having changed to one of respect.
Hong Kong have lost the advantage of surprise, and being taken as underdogs.
