Nadeem takes five as Hong Kong keeps PNG to 237

Nadeem Ahmed, the Hong Kong left-arm spinner, took a five-wicket haul to help bowl out Papua New Guinea for 237 in 77.3 overs, but a couple of quick wickets from the PNG pacers before the close of play on day one left the teams’ ICC Intercontinental Cup match hanging in the balance.

On Wednesday (November 29), Tony Ura and Kiplin Doriga, the PNG openers, justified their captain Assad Vala’s decision to bat first at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with a steady 90-run stand. They scored at a decent pace and found boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking.

The partnership was finally broken in the last delivery of the 28th over when Nadeem sent back Doriga for 40, which included six fours and a maximum. Ura too couldn't survive for long as he became the first victim for Ehsan Khan, the off-spinner.

Both Lega Siaka and Vala – the competition's second-highest run-getter with 692 runs, behind Ed Joyce's 700 – occupied the crease for a while, but couldn’t capitalise on the start. PNG was 145 for 2 at one stage, but the wicket of Siaka (32) followed by a run-out of Sese Bau in quick succession put a break on its hopes of posting a good first-innings total.

Having slumped to 187 for 5, Nadeem picked up three of the last five wickets to return figures of 5 for 72 while Ehsan claimed 3 for 66, including the key scalp of Vala on 40.

Coming in at No. 9, John Reva smoked two boundaries and as many sixes en route to an entertaining 32-ball 25, but couldn't prevent his side from getting bowled out for a slightly below-par score.

In reply, though, PNG lost its openers Christopher Carter (9) and Cameron McAuslan (3) early. Babar Hayat (12 n.o.), the skipper, and Anshuman Rath (20 n.o.) weathered the storm to help Hong Kong end the first day on 50 for 2 in 16 overs, bringing down the deficit to 187 runs.