Sanath Jayasuriya and Shahid Afridi, two of the most destructive batsmen in the history of cricket, are set to dazzle fans at the 2011 Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes at the Kowloon Cricket Club from October 28-30, 2011.

Joining them in the All Stars line-up are a coterie of premier cricketers from around the globe including one of the world’s fastest bowlers, Australia’s Shaun Tait, South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs, Pakistan’s Abdul Razzaq and the International Cricket Council’s Affiliate Player of the year, Ryan ten Doeschate of The Netherlands.

Sri Lanka’s Jayasuriya and Pakistan’s Afridi have gone head-to-head with their batting exploits and are recognised as two of the most feared batsmen in the world. The duo are ideally suited to Hong Kong’s unique format with hitting sixes almost second nature for the pair.

Two of the most-feared batsmen

Master blaster Jayasuriya held the record for the most sixes in one-day internationals – 270 – until Shahid Afridi, nicknamed “Boom Boom” for his aggressive batting style, overhauled it to stand top of the list with 289. The picturesque Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) will be tailor-made for the duo who will carry the hopes of the All Stars in the expanded 12-team tournament.

“We are thrilled to have both Sanath Jayasuriya and Shahid Afridi playing on the same team. They are outstanding cricketers who can demolish any bowling attack and are more than capable bowlers themselves. Fans are in for a treat,” said Captain Shahazada Saleem, president of the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA).

Jayasuriya (pictured below) , who holds the record for the fastest 50 in One Day Internationals (ODIs) – off just 17 balls – is a more than capable bowler with his left arm spin having claimed 323 wickets. He is the only player to score more than 13,000 runs and take more than 300 wickets in ODIs.

Afridi was the standout bowler at this year’s World Cup. The leg-spinner was the joint highest wicket-taker with 21 scalps. He also holds the record for scoring the fastest 100, off just 37 balls, another record he claimed from Jayasuriya who had the previous fastest ton (off 48 balls).

The destructive pair will figure in a powerful All Stars team which also includes South African opener Herschelle Gibbs, Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, Australian spearhead Shaun Tait and Ryan ten Doeschate of the Netherlands.

Opposing batsmen will have to watch out for Shaun Tait and his thunderbolts. The Aussie is widely regarded as one of the world’s fastest bowlers. Tait once bowled a delivery recorded at 160.7 kilometres per hour – the fastest ball ever bowled on Australian soil.

Master Gibbs

South African Hershelle Gibbs, is an elegant batsman who on his day can tear apart any attack. He became the first player to hit six sixes in one over, doing so against the Netherlands at the 2007 World Cup. Opponents at KCC will also have to watch out for his brilliant fielding.

All-rounder Razzaq

Abdul Razzaq will be another key cog in the All Stars team. Handy with both bat and ball, the Pakistani played a huge part in his country’s victory over Australia at this year’s World Cup as he guided them to a tense victory with an unbeaten 20 off 24 balls. His coolness under pressure will be welcomed by the All Stars.

Developing stars

In keeping with the Hong Kong Cricket Association’s goal to promote Cricket’s Associate nations, the Netherlands’ Ryan ten Doeschate rounds out this year’s All Star selection.

Every English fan will remember ten Doeschate for the century he scored against England at this year’s World Cup. His knock of 119 is the record for the highest individual score by a player from an associate nation. The Netherlands all-rounder was recently named the ICC Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year for the third time in four years and for the second year running.

Ten Doeschate, 31, played six ODIs during the World Cup this year and scored two centuries and a half-century, averaging 61.40 for the period with a strike rate of 89.24. He is also the first Associate player to win an IPL contract. He was bought at the 2011 auction by Kolkata Knight Riders.

“We have got a good blend of players from all around the world and I expect the All Stars to be one of the favourites to win the tournament,” said Saleem.

The All Stars have been drawn with Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Scotland in pool A. Defending champions Australia are in pool B with England, Bangladesh and Ireland while pool C comprises last year’s losing finalists Pakistan, South Africa, India and Hong Kong.

Korea captured its third consecutive Shanghai Sevens title after edging Hong Kong 22-17 with a try in sudden-death in today’s Cup final.

Kim Gwong Min scored the winning try to complete a hat-trick in the final and earn the honours as the Most Valuable Player of the Shanghai Sevens 2011.

After a shock loss to unheralded Philippines on day one, Korea righted its ship on day two to book its place in the final for the third consecutive year in Shanghai against Hong Kong, the in-form team of the tournament this weekend.

Speaking after the emotional cup final win, Korea captain Yoon Tae-Il said, “Our performance improved after day one and we had a good review after losing to the Philippines. We were able to come back and defeat China in front of their home crowds and reach the final where we had as good a chance as Hong Kong.

“It is fair to say that Hong Kong was the in-form team of the tournament but we looked across from them in the second half and when we were exhausted we could see they were exhausted too. It gave us the lift to come back.”

Continuing its trend of winning the hard way this weekend, Korea conceded a 10-point lead to Hong Kong in the first half of the final through tries to Keith Robertson and Tom McQueen, another player in the running for MVP honours this weekend.

But Korea struck back quickly in the second half through Kim Gwong Min’s first try from the kick-off. Hong Kong replied through Rowan Varty on his tournament debut as sevens captain further widening the lead to 17-5 after Keith Robertson’s conversion. Under relentless pressure from Korea in the second half, Hong Kong conceded a yellow card for interference on the try line. Korea efficiently utilised the man advantage to put Kim over for his second try closing the gap at 17-10.

Korea continued to exert pressure on Hong Kong in the second half, leading to a try to winger Noh Hoon Jae, levelling the scores at 17-all at the end of regulation time.

Korea’s Kim Gwong Min scores the winning try at the Shanghai Sevens(Pic: Elite Step Asia)

Extra Time

Hong Kong exerted early pressure from the kick-off of extra time but in the second minute of the five-minute golden point extra-time, Korea managed to fly-kick ahead from ruck ball and the rapacious Kim Gwong Min was again in the right place at the right time. Kim outpaced the Hong Kong defence to chase down the ball and cross over for his third try of the match giving Korea the title with a 22-17 win.

The win marked the third consecutive victory for Korea in Shanghai. Korea also enters the history books as the first ever tournament champions on the new HSBC Asian Sevens Series launched this year. It was also the first win for Korea in the Yuanshen Stadium in Shanghai, which hosted the event for the first time in 2011.

Heartbreak for Hong Kong

It was heartbreak for Hong Kong after reaching the Shanghai final for the first time in the three-year history of the event. Hong Kong narrowly missed out on its own Cinderella story as they were in position to win the inaugural event of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series in Shanghai just days after announcing that HSBC is the new principle sponsor of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union National Teams.

Hong Kong can take solace in being the team to beat for much of the tournament despite integrating several new and returning players into the core squad for the opening tournament on the 2011 series.

Hong Kong’s run to the final included a convincing 26-nil win over its traditional nemesis Japan in the Cup semi final. Despite the disappointment of the final, the performance will hold Hong Kong in good stead as they prepare to defend their title at next month’s Borneo Sevens, the second ranking event on the HSBC Asian Sevens Series 2011.

Hong Kong National Coach Dai Rees (pictured above) was philosophical about the result saying, “It is disappointing of course to lose in extra time but I am pleased with the way we were able to gel as a team and to reach the final in the first tournament of the season. We will use this loss as motivation as we prepare for Borneo. The good thing is that the new lads fitted into the squad very well and there is now great depth in our squad and some fierce competition for places in Borneo.”

The next event on the HSBC Asian Sevens Series is the Borneo Sevens (September 24-25) in Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia, where Hong Kong are the reigning champions.

A triumphant Korea celebrate their Shanghai Sevens 2011 win (Pic: Elite Step Asia)

The Hong Kong Sevens team has made a confident start to their campaign in the inaugural HSBC Asian Sevens Series.

The tournament kicked-off in the Chinese city of Shanghai today and concludes with the knock-out rounds tomorrow, Sunday 28 August.

Competing in Pool D, Hong Kong saw off the challenge from Malaysia (28 – 7) as well as Mongolia (59 – 0).

The season-opener was not without it’s upset, with the Philippines beating favourites and Asian strongmen Korea 19 – 7.

Hong Kong captain Rowan Varty takes on Mongolia at the Shanghai Sevens. (Pic: Elite Step Asia)

The line-up for tomorrow’s knock-out matches is:

UAE  v Sri Lanka
Bowl Semi Final (BSF1)

Chinese Taipei v Mongolia
Bowl Semi Final (BSF2)

Japan v Malaysia
Quarter Final (QF1)

Hong Kong v Thailand
Quarter Final (QF2)

Philippines  v Kazakhstan
Quarter Final (QF3)

China v Korea
Quarter Final (QF4)

In other news from the Shanghai Sevens, The National reports that it’s not all good for the UAE at the season-opener.

The UAE made the worst possible start in their bid to persuade the International Rugby Board they deserve a place at December’s Dubai Rugby Sevens, after they lost both their matches in the pool stage of the Shanghai Sevens yesterday.

The newly formed UAE sevens side have been told they will have to prove they are worthy of playing in the opening tournament of the HSBC World Series in Dubai later this year.

The team was created after the Arabian Gulf was disbanded at the end of last year, but they did not automatically assume the Gulf’s place in their home competition.

Instead, the IRB will monitor how they fare in the HSBC Asian Sevens Series, with this weekend’s opening leg in Shanghai to be followed by tournaments in Borneo and Thailand.

If the game’s ruling body decide the team from the Emirates are not competitive enough, the Dubai Sevens will be the only leg on the nine-tournament World Series not to have a home representative.

Additional picture in this report: China’s Lu Zhuan on the run in the 26-7 win over Kazakhstan on day one of the Shanghai Sevens, the opening event of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series

(Mike Jansen, 23 June 2011, Hong Kong)

Organisers of the UBS Hong Kong Open scored a massive coup last year when they managed to clinch US Open champion Rory McIlroy‘s signature for two years (starting last year).

At the time the Irishman’s appearance fee was a fraction of what he can demand after winning his first-ever major at The Congressional this past weekend.  Reports are that McIlroy can now bank on an appearance fee of at least US$1 million.

McIlroy (pictured by Getty Images below) has played the UBS Hong Kong Open on 3 ocassions, but has not won in the Territory yet.  His closest shot at the title came in 2008 when he was involved in a dramatic tie with eventual winner, Taiwan’s Lin Wen Tang. (Watch the YouTube video below)

I was fortunate to share some time with the youngster at the Happy Valley Race Course ahead of the 2010 UBS Hong Kong Open.  On the night, McIlroy tried his hand at the (horse) races and, while it’s not known whether he won anything, he did have a great time in the City.  Last year there were no minders, bodyguards or other appendages super stars come with these days. It will be interesting to see if anything has changed following his first Major win.

The 2008 Hong Kong Open

Molinari, McIlroy and Lin play-off. I haven’t been to too many big tournaments, let alone a 3-way play-off, but I am happy to say that I was standing right behind Lin Wen Tang when he played THAT amazing shot (2:15 into the video clip)!  The best player on the day eventually was crowned UBS Hong Kong Open Champion.

Take a bow Lin Wen Tang. 谢谢 !

Past winners since 2001 are:

2001 Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP)

2002 Fredrik Jacobson (SWE)

2003 Padraig Harrington (IRE)

2004 Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP)

2005 Colin Montgomerie (SCT)

2006 Jose Manuel Lara (ESP)

2007 Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP)

2008 Lin Wen Tang (TPE)

2009 Gregory Bourdy (FR)

2010 Ian Poulter (ENG)

The countdown to my family’s two-yearly trip home for Hong Kong’s summer holidays has officially begun.

Excuse me making a big deal of it, but when one has been away from home for a decade, seeing family and friends only once every two years… you will understand why we are all looking forward to the trip.

In a month’s time my family and I will board the biggest airplane on the world, Emirates’ A380 en-route to Dubai (via Bangkok).

Two years ago I bought a Lonely Planet guide for the United Arab Emirates that has been gathering dust in my rented storage locker. Thankfully I can finally retrieve it because we will be staying over in Dubai for 4 days.

The kids are still busy writing their final examinations and when that is all done and dusted, the serious planning around what we want to see and what road-trips we will be doing back home, will begin.

I’m going to share some of the information we gather about tourist attractions in South Africa right here on Howzit-HongKong.com

If internet service has improved back home (it was pretty useless and moerse expensive last time around), I also plan to keep you abreast of what we are doing and seeing on our trip around South Africa.

Stay tuned…

African sunrise. A stunning sunrise on approach to OR Tambo Airport in Joburg (Pic: Mike Jansen, 2009)

The inaugural Taiwan Straits Race set off from outside my window in Hung Hom yesterday (Saturday, 21 May 2011)

Organised by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC), this is the first time that the 350nm from Hong Kong to Kaohsiung has been contested as a Category 1 Offshore race, however two of the competitors, Polar Star III and Tipsy Frenz, have completed the route as a Rally in previous years and are big supporters of the decision to upgrade the event to a race.

“Great oaks from little acorns grow” said a press release from the RHKYC who added that they hope that from the five pioneering boats on the start line for the inaugural Taiwan Strait Race, a much larger fleet grows over time.

Race Officer Jimmy Farquhar elected to start the fleet from Hung Hom, with a 8 to 10 knot easterly available all the way through the harbour and beyond Lei Yue Mun gap.

As the committee boat watched the transoms disappear up the Harbour attention turned to the Yellowbrick tracking carried by the boats, which will update their positions at 30 minute intervals and allow shore based family, friends and sailors to follow the fleet’s progress. At 1300hrs on Saturday, Ambush was already close to clearing the Eastern approaches and setting course for Pedro Blanco.

The first radio position report was taken at 1800hrs, Those interested in the Race can watch the fleet’s progress via Yellowbrick tracking at http://live.adventuretracking.com/hkt2011

I have been living in Hong Kong for four years now and, I have to admit, in that time I have personally met more Wallaby and All Blacks (current and legends) here than I have Springboks.

Because of annual Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens, as well as the SA Association Dinner (and the recent Invictus movie) I have had the privilege of meeting South African legends such as Naas Botha, Marius Hurter, Bob Skinstad, Kobus Wiese, Butch James, as well as SA commentator and former Junior-Bok Hugh Bladen.

Given one or two names that eludes me at 00:15 in the Hong Kong morning, I can probably count the Bok legends I have met here on two hands.

On the other hand I have met numerous Assie and Kiwis (current and ex-players) here in Hong Kong mainly because of the Bledisloe Cup games in 2008 and 2010 as well as promotional events in the run-up to the 2011 Rugby Wold Cup (RWC) in New Zealand later this year.

One of these legends, John (JK) Kirwan was in Hong Kong just last week when his team Japan played hosts Hong Kong in the Asian5Nations Tournament.

I had met the RWC Winner on another previous occasion in Hong Kong when he represented the New Zealand Tourism organisation in the the build-up to RWC 2011.

And what a speaker JK is!

I caught up with Kirwan at a HSBC/ARFU coaching clinic at the HK Football Club recently and asked him some questions:

The IRB’s Total Rugby today posted the following video of JK, recorded while he was here in Hong Kong:

I took some pictures while Kirwan was here in Hong Kong:

HSBC/ARFU Coaching Clinic

Japan vs. Hong Kong (Asian5Nations)

After becoming the first world No.1 to play in Korea and the first to win the Ballantine’s Championship, Lee Westwood would like to be the first player to retain the trophy.

“Yes, I’d like to come back,” confirmed Westwood after his dramatic victory at Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul on Sunday. “I always try to defend a tournament.”

The English star triumphed by one shot over Spanish veteran Miguel Ángel Jiménez to underline his status as the world’s best player.

He is the first world No.1 to win the Ballantine’s Championship after victories by Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell in 2008, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee in 2009 and Marcus Fraser of Australia 12 months ago.

And he had a special word of praise for the Korean galleries who turned out in large numbers to cheer on the players.

“The fans were great, very supportive, and it just shows the keenness of the Korean public to come out and watch the players they’ve seen on TV playing in other parts of the world,” said Westwood.

Sunday marked the day the €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship came of age.

After the first three editions of the tournament were played on the Korean holiday island of Jeju, organisers moved the event to just outside Seoul and were rewarded with large galleries and a duel between the world No.1 and one of golf’s great characters.

It ended when Jiménez’s 14-foot birdie putt at the last slid past the hole, leaving Westwood the winner by a single shot. It was his second victory in a row following his success in the previous week’s Indonesian Masters.

Also “leaving an impression” on the 2011 tournament were Korean challenger Park Sang Hyun, who delighted the home fans with an eagle at the last to finish third, and American star Dustin Johnson – making his competitive debut in Asia – who was fourth.

“The 2011 Ballantine’s Championship has been a huge success for us and on behalf of everyone at Ballantine’s I’d like to congratulate world No.1 Lee Westwood for his truly impressive win,” said Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, owner of Ballantine’s.

“The stunning course proved an exciting challenge for our strongest field yet and Lee mastered it beautifully.

“The exceptionally high level of competition between the world’s best players and Korean’s rising stars was testament to the way in which our tournament has gone from strength to strength. Our aim was to step up a level in our fourth year and we certainly achieved this at Blackstone Golf Club.

“Ballantine’s is proud of its golf heritage and continues to be committed to international golf in the long-term. We look forward to staging Korea’s premier golf event again next year.”

World No.1 Lee Westwood hits a drive in front of a stand packed with Korean golf fans on his way to victory in the 2011 Ballantine’s Championship. (Pic: Paul Lakatos/Parallel Media Group)

Lee Westwood showed exactly why he is world No.1 with a thrilling one-shot victory in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea earlier today.

The English ace returned a five-under-par 67 at Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul to edge out Spanish veteran Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

The win left Westwood celebrating back-to-back victories in Asia following his success in last week’s Indonesian Masters.

In a nail-biting finish, Westwood birdied the par-five 18th to take the outright lead at 12-under for the tournament and Jiménez, playing four holes behind, was unable to find the birdie required to force a playoff.

Jiménez’s 14-foot birdie putt at the last slid past the hole, leaving him as runner-up on 11-under after a closing 71.

“I’m delighted,” said Westwood, the first world No.1 ever to play in Korea. “Professional golf is all about winning so it is great to do it two weeks in a row. It was nice to come back from last week, refocus and get it all together for this week, as well.

“When you’re No.1, it’s always nice to come to a place and play like the No.1 and I think I’ve done that this week.”

Westwood, who began the final round three shots behind the leading trio of Jiménez, Welshman Rhys Davies and Alex Noren of Sweden, added: “It was very difficult out there today. The wind was up and swirling around.

“There were some tough holes, difficult to club, and my distance control with my irons has been very good this week. I have a great caddie in Billy Foster, as well, which always helps on a day like today.”

“To go around without making a bogey, five birdies and 13 pars, was a special round of golf, I think,” said Westwood, who earned €367,500 for his 21st European Tour victory.

With his world No.1 status underlined, Westwood was in no doubt about his next target.

“My next goal is to win a Major championship,” he said. “It’s the dream of all professional golfers to get to No. 1 in the world rankings, and I’ve done that.

“I haven’t won a Major yet and that’s the missing thing. So that’s what I gear all my practice and scheduling towards. That’s the next thing, hopefully.”

Korean Tour regular Park Sang Hyun (69) delighted the galleries at the €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship with an eagle the last to take sole possession of third place on 10-under.

American star Dustin Johnson – making his competitive debut in Asia – carded a 69 to finish fourth on nine-under.

After the rain-affected third round was completed on Sunday morning, Jiménez, Davies and Noren were on 10-under, one shot ahead of Australian Brett Rumford.

After just three holes, Noren had moved to 12-under and held a three-shot lead over the field but four bogeys between No.4 and No.11 ended his challenge. He returned a 74 to finish tied fifth with Korea’s Hong Soon Sang (69).

Rumford – joint second in the Ballantine’s Championship 12 months ago – carded a 74 to finish joint seventh while Davies fell away with a 77 to end up tied for 13th place.

The 2011 Ballantine’s Championship was once again co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA.

World No.1 Lee Westwood displays the Ballantine’s Championship trophy on Sunday (1 May) after his dramatic one-shot victory at Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul, Korea. Picture: Paul Lakatos/Parallel Media Group

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Briton Lee Westwood clinched the Ballantine’s Championship by a stroke on Sunday with a scorching final round that secured his second consecutive title in Asia and consolidated his world number one ranking.

The 38-year old Englishman, who won the Indonesian Masters last week, hit a blemish-free five-under 67 at the Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul to finish with a 12-under total of 276, one better than Ryder Cup team mate Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain.

Park Sang-hyun of South Korea finished third on 10-under in the European and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event after carding a final-round 69 with an eagle on the last hole.

Westwood, who wrested back the top ranking with his win in Indonesia, trailed the leaders by three strokes after the weather-hit third round finished on Sunday morning.

He holed two birdies on the front nine and finished with three more after the turn but had to endure an anxious wait in the clubhouse as overnight joint leader Jimenez finished his round.

Five of the star players appearing in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea – (from left) Dustin Johnson, Ian Poulter, YE Yang, Lee Westwood and Miguel Ángel Jiménez with the tournament trophy inside the clubhouse at Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul. Picture: Paul Lakatos / Parallel Media Group

“It feels great. I must admit it was nerve-racking sitting there watching people play. You never wish ill on anyone but I’m delighted to win,” Westwood said.

“I’ve won two weeks in a row before but it’s still very special. It’s tough to come down off a win and get yourself re-focused, but the more experience you get the easier it is to do it.”

The pony-tailed Jimenez needed just one birdie in the closing holes to force a play-off with Westwood but could manage only pars on the back nine.

“We had a nice bottle of red and after dinner I said ‘I’ll see you in the playoff tomorrow’ and it nearly went that way,” said Westwood, who dined with the Spaniard on Saturday before winning his 21st European Tour title.

“Billy (Foster, his caddie) said to me on the sixth or seventh that 11-under will have a chance so that was the figure we were aiming for.

“It’s tricky out there. It’s a difficult course because it goes around the hills and it’s difficult to pick the wind up, it swirls a lot.”