On one side we have excellent wicketkeepers like MS Dhoni, Quinton de Kock and Jos Buttler doing fantastic work behind the wicket and taking the bails off in a flash. The Hong Kong T20 Blitz 2018 inaugural match saw one of the easiest chances missed by Hong Kong Island United wicketkeeper Zeeshan Ali.
In the first innings of the match, Anshuman Rath stepped down the wicket to hit off-spinner Ehsan Khan for a big shot. Rath missed the ball completely as it did not turn. Ali had a simple chance to stump out Rath as he had given up and not even taken an effort to get back to the crease.
Oops! @HKI_United‘s Zeeshan Ali lets the ball slip through his fingers to give Anshy Rath a lucky escape! pic.twitter.com/KRMKqRvcj8
— Hong Kong T20 Blitz (@HKT20Blitz) February 7, 2018
ALSO READ: 51-year-old Wasim Akram shows Shoaib Malik he’s still got it, takes his wicket in domestic T10 match
However, Ali could not hold on to the ball while stumping and Rath was given a second chance. He scored 35 runs from 22 balls, including 4 fours and 2 sixes. He shared an opening partnership of 100 runs with Kyle Coetzer. City Kataik scored 195 runs for 4 wickets. Coetzer scored his maiden T20 hundred. He scored 100 runs from 65 balls with the help of 13 fours and 3 sixes.
ALSO READ: India vs South Africa 3rd ODI Live Cricket Score: Will Virat Kohli & Co script history?
In reply, Hong Kong Island United never seemed to be playing well enough to chase the target. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals. As a result, they could only score 169 runs for 9 wickets, losing the match by 26 runs. Ryan Ten Doeschate top-scored with 52 runs from 45 balls, featuring 4 fours and 1 six.