South Africa defended the trophy they had held 5 years ago as they beat Pakistan to lift the 2017 edition of the Hong Kong World Sixes at Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong.
Hammad Azam (41 off 12) and Sohail Khan (46 off 14) played the lone hands in taking Pakistan to 123/6. Sarel Erwee started the innings on a confident note as he dismissed both Sahibjada Farhan and Sohail Tanveer in the first over. Pakistan went on to score in excess of 20 runs in all the overs but got bowled out for 123 in 4.5 overs with all the Proteas players picking up wickets in their respective overs.
Sarel Erwee (39 off 15) & Ferisco Adams (20 off 7) started well for South Africa but Pakistan were badly hampered by the 3rd and the 4th overs by Sohail Tanveer and Hammad Azam, as both gave away 70 runs in 12 deliveries with Aubrey Swanepoel (38 n.o off 9) taking full toll of them and taking South Africa to victory by hitting the final delivery for a boundary to post 124/4 in 5 overs.
South Africa, thus, defend the trophy from the previously held edition in 2012. New Zealdand won the 3rd/4th play-off match against Australia by 6 wickets. The Kiwis also won a last ball finish match as they chased down Australia’s 118/1 by scoring 124/0 in their 5 overs.
