The tour, filled with fun, friendship and fierce competition, culminated in the Sunday Cup Match (Feb 9), where the Patong Penguins defended 160 in a thrilling contest to claim a 9-run victory over HKCC. But beyond the result, the weekend was a celebration of cricket’s spirit, bringing players together to strengthen the ties between the two clubs.
The HKCC touring squad, led by HKCC Qilin on their inaugural tour, was supported by members from HKCC Xuanwu, a feeder side developing emerging players and HKCC Diamonds, the latest addition to HKCC’s women’s cricket setup, competing in Women’s T20 League Division 2, with six players touring under captain Alvina Tam.
While the Sunday Cup Match was the competitive highlight, the first two days set the tone for the weekend with two social fixtures designed to foster camaraderie and inclusion.
Friday – Easing into the Weekend
Friday’s (Feb 7) opening fixture saw the Patong Invitational XI take on HKCC in a relaxed and friendly setting, allowing both teams to get a feel for each other. Many players eased off their competitive nature in favor of an enjoyable, inclusive game, ensuring that everyone had a chance to participate.
Saturday – Fun, Family and First-Timers
Saturday’s (Feb 8) match took the social aspect even further, featuring a two-innings format with 15 overs in the first innings and 10 in the second. The day’s real triumph was its inclusivity as six HKCC women’s players, two junior boys and several ACG newcomers took part, making it a festival of cricket.
The match allowed younger and less-experienced players to gain valuable time in the middle while ensuring the tour retained its friendly and welcoming nature. Encouraging participation was key, with rules adjusted to ensure a positive experience for all involved.
These two days of social cricket played a crucial role in building stronger relationships between the squads, laying the groundwork for Sunday’s more competitive showdown.
Sunday Cup Match – Patong Penguins Hold Their Nerve
After two days of relaxed, inclusive cricket, Sunday’s (Feb 9) Cup Match provided a sharp shift in intensity as both teams turned up the heat in a competitive T20 battle.
Winning the toss, the Penguins opted to bat, looking to set a challenging total. Andrew McMillan (31 off 32, 2 fours, 1 six) played a steady knock at the top, Shivam Sachdeva (34 off 24, 2 fours, 2 sixes) injected some firepower, striking at 141.67, while Michael Flowers (24 off 19, 4 fours, not out) and Jagsir Brar (9 off 5, 1 six, not out) provided crucial late-order hitting.
HKCC’s bowlers made key breakthroughs with Andy Tse (4-0-9-2) delivering a brilliant spell, keeping things tight in the early stages while removing Penguin lynchpin Craig Morgan. Alvina Tam (3-0-38-2) also picked up important wickets, including Andrew McMillan and Ajay Sampige to leave the Penguins on 160/7, a challenging but achievable target for HKCC.
Chasing 161 for victory, HKCC suffered early setbacks at 18/2, including the dismissal of power player Raymond Chan, who fell to an unplayable, ‘TaylorMade’ Jagsir Brar delivery for a Plucka duck.
Michael Chung (57 off 56, 7 fours) played a determined knock, holding the innings together as wickets fell around him and Adrian Lai (35 off 19, 5 fours, not out) provided the late acceleration, forming a crucial partnership with Chung, bringing HKCC within striking distance in the final overs.
Michael Flowers (4-0-11-2) was at his miserly best in the middle overs, removing Chi Lee (3) and Henry Pau (7) and helping to ensure that HKCC felt the pressure of a rising required rate, while a well rested Sunny Bowry (4-0-29-1) held his nerve in the final over.
A Fitting End to a Memorable Tour
The Patong Penguins’ victory in the Cup Match wrapped up a hugely successful weekend, where the spirit of cricket was at its finest.
From the friendly opening games to Sunday’s competitive thriller, the weekend highlighted the growth of Cantonese-speaking cricket, the development of young talent, and the bonds being built between HKCC and Phuket cricket.
Tour manager Nitesh Hemlani, a regular visitor for the Phuket Cricket Sixes, played a huge role not only in scoring and managing but also in adding to the atmosphere behind the mic during the Cup Final.
The efforts of Adrian Lai, playing for his former HKCC teammates despite also being a Patong Penguin, helped bring people together and made the event a success with both teams already looking forward to the next edition, this was a weekend to remember.