Kowloon Cantons triumph in Hong Kong T20 Blitz

HONG KONG: Dwayne Smith capitalised on a first ball reprieve to produce a rapid half-century and lead Kowloon Cantons to a 25-run victory over City Kaitak in Hong Kong’s T20 Blitz final on Sunday.

In front of a lively crowd at Mission Road Ground, the West Indian cashed in after being badly dropped by England all-rounder Chris Jordan on the long-on boundary off the innings’ first ball. Smith scored 63 off 36 balls and combined in a record opening stand of 149 with man-of-the match Babar Hayat.

Babar, the Pakistan-born Hong Kong cricketer, upstaged Smith in the early going smashing 76 off 40 balls to provide the platform for Kowloon’s total of 222 for three.

Smith’s compatriot Marlon Samuels (32 off 21 balls) put the finishing touches but City Kaitak gamely responded with Scottish opener Kyle Coetzer smashing four consecutive sixes off Smith’s medium pacers to leave the match delicately poised.

Coetzer and Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 65 inside the opening five overs before the Sri Lankan was brilliantly caught by Mudassar Hussain to end his enterprising 23 off 11 balls.