Hong Kong cricket coach predicts ‘pretty exciting’ summer after ‘very competitive’ display against Namibia
- Although well beaten, after nearly 2½ years without any meaningful cricket a 65-run defeat is no cause for concern for Trent Johnston
- ‘I get very disappointed when we lose because of the quality we have, but I walked away from that game with a smile on my face,’ coach says
Hong Kong cricket coach Trent Johnston said he was looking forward to a “pretty exciting” couple of months ahead of his side’s second unofficial One-Day International against Namibia on Thursday.
Although well beaten in the opening game at the United Cricket Club Ground in Windhoek, after nearly 2½ years without any meaningful cricket a 65-run defeat was not exactly cause for concern.
There were certainly things Johnston will be keen to address, not least the 66 runs Hong Kong conceded in the final four overs of Namibia’s innings on Sunday, or the way in which they failed to rotate the strike allowing the run rate to creep above 10 an over when trying to chase down the 332 needed to win.
Several mistakes crept into the field as well, but on the plus side, there were half centuries for skipper Nizakat Khan (79), Babar Hayat (54), and Yasim Murtaza (72), as Hong Kong were bowled out for 267.
The performance of his two young fast bowlers Ayush Shukla and Vikas Sharma, in the first 10 overs also put a smile on Johnson’s face, although the fact Namibia amassed their runs for the loss of only five wickets is something that will need to be addressed.
“If that’s where we are starting our tour, it’s going to be a pretty exciting couple of months,” he said. “If that’s our benchmark, if that’s where we build from, it’s going to be a very successful tour.
“I get very disappointed when we lose because of the quality that we have and how good we can be, but I walked away from that game with a smile on my face thinking ‘wow’.
