Captain Tabarak Dar battled bravely but even an unbeaten century was not enough to save Hong Kong from tumbling to a heavy 125-run defeat at the hands of Sheikhupura at the Lahore Country Club in Pakistan. Dar hit 102 from 140 balls and together with Nizakat Khan (31 not out) figured in an unbroken stand of 73 for the fifth wicket. But their efforts were in vain as they chased an imposing total of 325. The loss was the second successive defeat on the 10-day training tour of Pakistan - a build-up to next month's Asia Cup in Lahore where Hong Kong will come up against test sides Pakistan and India. Batting first, the home team piled on the runs to close at 325 for six in their 50 overs. None of the seven Hong Kong bowlers used made much of an impression. Left-arm spinner Najeeb Amar took three for 82 off nine overs. Ghulam Mustafa bowled tidily for figures of one for 17 off three overs while Skhawat Ali's five overs went for 20. Dar batted steadily to become the first Hong Kong batsman to score a ton on tour but apart from Khan, none of the other batsmen were able to break free as Hong Kong finished on 200 for four. Hong Kong Cricket Club's Darren Tucker was the only name put forward to fill the position of chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association, left vacant by the resignation of Clive Howard last week. Contrary to popular expectations, the Independent Clubs' Sohail Murshed will not be running for the chairman's post, leaving Tucker an uncontested path to the top job. Nominations, which closed on Tuesday, reveal that none of the positions will be up for elections at the AGM on May 23 at the Kowloon Cricket Club. Terry Smith will continue as president as will John Cribbin (secretary) and Dinesh Tandon (treasurer). James Callow and Simon Scanlon will be the representatives from the HKCC and KCC respectively.
