Taiwan Daredevils flew the flag by beating visiting Hong Kong side Harper’s Home Mix twice in a pair of matches hosted by the Chinese Cricket Development Association (CCDA) in Pingtung over the weekend.
In Saturday’s first match Harper’s captain Adam Harper won the toss and elected to send the Daredevils in to bat.
The local side had a shaky start as the top order crumbled and thing looked ominous. However, a spate of extras and a stunning half-century from John Nettleton turned things round, the Aussie smashing four sixes and six fours to finish on 62 off just 23 balls. The tail wagged to add more runs as the Daredevils rattled up 172 off their 15 overs.
Anthony Hopewell was Harper’s best bowler, taking 3-22 off his three overs, including the scalp of veteran South African Duane Christie and Nettleton.
Faced with a daunting total, Harper’s could only manage 80, with a late flurry of runs from Hopewell saving the visitors from an even heavier defeat.
Kiwi Kris Cokes Lal starred with the ball, taking 3-8 from two overs. Tight bowling from Pakistani paceman Mahroof Hussain and Taiwanese-Englishman Laurence Fell also helped restrict Harper’s.
The second match was reduced to 12 overs and saw Harper’s bat first, but once more they failed to shine with the bat, finishing with 42-5.
Again the Daredevils bowling proved too strong, with Fell taking 2-4.
Batsmen Andrew Carrick and Nettleton scored freely to see the Daredevils coast to a second victory and the game ended with a six from Australian Stephen White.
“Enthusiasm is high and cricket is alive and well in Taiwan,” Carrick said.
Next up for the Daredevils is the annual Pingtung SixesTournament — to be hosted by the CCDA this coming weekend at the Pingtung Pro Baseball Ground — which will also feature Geckos CC, Pakistan Cricket Club Taipei and Formosa Cricket Club.
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