Farhaan Behardien confirmed his ranking as one of the most under-rated limited overs cricketers when he hit a six off the last ball to blast South Africa to a two-wicket victory over the home side in the final of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.

Hong Kong, the surprise team of the tournament, had already beaten Davy Jacobs' side twice in getting to the final, and they looked on target to make it three out of three after the South Africans lost three wickets in the second eight-ball over.

That made them 32/3 in pursuit of a target of 98 with only 24 balls left, but Behardien and his fellow Nashua Titans player, David Wiese, took charge.

In terms of the tournament rules both players were forced to retired on reaching 30 runs, Wiese having made 32 off 13 balls and Behardien 31 off only 9.

But both men had to come back to the crease in the chaotic final over after other players had been dismissed.

Behardien hit a six off the second ball and then had to retire to be replaced by Wiese who was dismissed first ball. Werner Coetsee then faced the next four balls scoring a six off the second and a single off the fourth.

That left Behardien on strike with five needed for victory. He responded by hitting Hong Kong's final bowler, Mark Wright, out of the ground to finish on 37 off 10 balls.

Behardien, who recently turned 26, made 100 off 60 balls on the recent Emerging Squad tour of Australia against the host country and it must only be a matter of time before the selectors call him up to the South Africa A squad.

This was the first time that Hong Kong had got anywhere near the final in the 17 years it has been contested and they earned the consolation prize of Ahmed Irfaan being named player of the tournament.

"It was a pretty exciting finish," commented South African captain Davy Jacobs.

"Hong Kong were probably the most consistent team in the tournament and fortunately we managed to beat them when it counted," he said after receiving the winners' cheque of $HK 55 000.

Apart from losing to Hong Kong twice, South Africa were victorious against Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England to book their place in the final.

This was the second time that South Africa have won the event in the last four years as they were also victorious under the captaincy of Nicky Boje in 2006.

New Zealand beat Australia in the Plate final.

Sapa

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