England win Sixes after closest ever finish
England lifted the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes trophy for a record fifth time on Sunday (9 November) after the most dramatic finish in the tournament’s history.

They ended the Cup final tied with Australia on 121 runs but won because they lost fewer wickets.

Australian batsman Stephen O’Keefe was narrowly run out attempting a second run that would have given his team victory.

“We like leaving it late but that was outstanding,” said England’s Tim Bresnan, who bowled the final over.

“I don’t think any of us have ever been involved in a final like that, played in front of such a fantastic crowd and with a tie at the end.”

England looked hot favourites to lift the Cup after blasting 121 for 1 off five eight-ball overs in the final of the showpiece event at the Kowloon Cricket Club.

Darren Maddy (32 retired) and captain Dimitri Mascarenhas (31 retired) led the run blitz before Jonathan Trott weighed in with 23 not out.

Tournament rules state a player must retire on reaching 31 although he is allowed to return if one of the last pair of batsmen is out.

But Australia came out firing in their reply with David Warner (35 not out) and Michael Hill (31 retired) leading the way.

At 120 for two, they needed two from the last two deliveries but allrounder John Hastings skied a catch to wicketkeeper Trott.

With two still needed from the final ball, the luckless O’Keefe straight drove for a single but was run out as he came back for the second, leaving Australia stranded on 121 for 4 and sparking wild English celebrations.

“All credit to the Australian side, they fought hard and our bowlers really kept us in it,” said Mascarenhas, who also won the Ben Hollioake Trophy as Player of the Tournament.

“It was a great tournament, we had quite a few close games throughout the competition.”

As well as the Sixes trophy, England also collected the winners’ cheque for US$88,000. It was their fifth victory in the tournament after previous successes in 1993-94 and 2003-04.

While disappointed to lose, the young Australian team could reflect on a tournament in which they won a lot of friends.

“We were confident the whole way through the run chase but Bresnan bowled a fantastic over at the end,” said Hill. “Congratulations to England and congratulations to him personally because he bowled really well.

“We can take away a lot of positives from this weekend and hopefully we can come back next year and have another crack at it.”

England and Australia qualified for the final after finished top and second respectively in the four-team Cup Group on the second day of the tournament.

Hong Kong, victors over the All-Stars and holders Sri Lanka on Saturday, were unable to repeat those heroics on Sunday.

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England, with captain Dimitri Mascarenhas lifting the trophy, celebrate their victory in the 2008 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes on Sunday (9 November).
Mandatory credit: Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

They lost all three of their Cup Group matches against South Africa, England and Australia but could hold their heads high after winding up fourth – their highest ever finish in the tournament.

Pakistan won a thrilling Plate final with a three-run victory over the All-Stars.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul needed a six off the final delivery to win it for the All-Stars but was unable to come up with the required big hit.

The All-Stars proved hugely popular with fans and batsman Justin Langer said the Sixes had been a memorable experience.

“It’s a fantastic tournament,” said the great Australian opener. “There’s a lot of excitement, the crowd get into it and the players really enjoy it. It’s been a brilliant weekend.”

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is fully sanctioned by the International Cricket Council and is the sport's longest-running, best-established and most high-profile sixes tournament.

Players who have taken part over the past 16 years include Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist and Wasim Akram.

The tournament is organised and promoted by the Hong Kong Cricket Association’s commercial arm, China Cricket International Limited.

The HKCA’s proceeds from the Sixes will be ploughed directly back into cricket development in Hong Kong.

About the Hong Kong Cricket Association
The Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) is responsible for professionally administering cricket at all levels in Hong Kong. It aims to promote, expand and develop the sport, improve standards in all areas of the game and increase the number of participants from all sectors of the local community. It organises competitions throughout the year for all age groups, from primary school children to senior players. The HKCA’s wholly owned subsidiary, China Cricket International Limited, is responsible for the organisation and management of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 

Released on behalf of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes by Two Up Front. 

For further information, please contact: 
Niall Donnelly           
Two Up Front     
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英格蘭險勝奪冠
英格蘭於星期日(11月9日)第五度奪得香港六人板球賽冠軍，過程峰迴路轉。

英格蘭以121個得分跑與澳洲同分，結果以較少三柱門得失，羸得冠軍。

澳洲擊球手奧凱弗(Stephen O’Keefe)沒有完成最後的得分跑，結果飲恨只得亞軍。

英格蘭最後投球的布萊斯曼(Tim Bresnan)表示：「我們起步較晚，但仍然表示出色。由領先到平手，我們從沒有經歷過這樣峰迴路轉的賽事。」

英格蘭最終大熱勝出，以121個得分跑和失去一個三柱門，在九龍木球會捧走冠軍盃。

馬迪(Dareen Maddy)和隊長馬士卡路也(Dimitri Mascarenhas)分別以32和31得分跑沒有出局，先為英格蘭取得優勢。其後的特羅特(Jonathan Trott)23回沒有出局。

其後澳洲派出華納(David Warner)與希爾(Michael Hill)分別以35個得分跑沒有出局和31出局，向英格蘭作出大反擊。

賽事接近尾升，澳洲取得120個得分跑，失了兩次三柱門。餘下兩次投球，只要兩次成功分別取得一個得分跑，便可勝出。可是全能球手希斯廷(John Hastings) 卻失手。

奧凱弗最後只取得一個得分跑，澳洲以121個得分跑，失四次三柱門，拱手相讓冠軍盃給英格蘭。

以最佳球員資格贏得Ben Hollioake杯的馬士卡路也賽後表示：「澳洲隊後來居上，幸好我們的投球也不甘視弱，有好幾次差點便輸了。」

英格蘭在六人賽獲得美金八萬八千元獎金，這是他們第五次奪標。

澳洲雖敗猶榮，羸得全場人士的歡呼聲和掌聲。

希爾表示：「我們今天信心十足，特別一讚布萊斯曼的投球，真的很利害。我們明年亦會全力以赴，希望能再次奪標。」

英格蘭和澳洲在循環賽分別以第一、二出線，進入盃決賽。

香港於星期六的出色表現，在星期日卻後徑不繼，最終只能獲得
第四名。

巴勒斯坦對明星隊，以三個得分跑羸得銀碟賽。陳德寶(Shivnarine Chanderpaul)最後一球沒打出一個六分，結果明星隊只得銀碟賽第
二。

回新聞頁

英格蘭隊長(Dimitri Mascarenhas)高舉冠軍盃，慶祝羸得星期日(11月9日)的2008香港六人板球賽。
相片提供：香港六人賽

受球迷愛戴的明星隊擊球手蘭格(Justin Langer)表示：「六人比賽刺激，球迷也非常熱鬧，這個週末很棒。」

香港六人板球賽於1992年創辦，獲國際板球會全面認可，是該項運動最具歷史、最完善及最受注目的六人比賽。

曾在過去16年參賽的球手包括拿拉、鄧德家、史提夫及馬克華治、李察士、費度夫、基卓斯及艾林。

賽事由香港板球會附屬公司中國板球國際負責籌辦及推廣。

賽事所得款項會透過香港板球會投入本地板球發展。

有關香港板球總會
香港板球總會負責管理全港各級別的板球事務，目標為推廣、擴大及發展板球運動、改善運動各範疇及增加本港社區各階層的參加人數。會方全年為包括學界及年長級別籌辦比賽，其全資附屬機構中國板球國際有限公司負責籌辦及管理香港六人板球賽。  

由Two Up Front代表香港六人木球賽發佈。

如欲查詢賽事詳情，請聯絡：  
Niall Donnelly                       Vivian Pau
Two Up Front                      Two Up Front
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