The “high-risk, high-voltage” Hong Kong Cricket Sixes got off to a blistering start under a baking sky at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground on Friday.

Nepal created the story of the opening morning when they shocked England, despite Ravi Bopara coming within one blow of clubbing six sixes in an over.

South Africa began the defence of their title by waltzing to a seven-wicket victory over Hong Kong, while Pakistan openers Muhammad Akhlaq and Asif Ali feasted on the United Arab Emirates’ bowling in a 13-run victory for their team.

Burji Shroff, the chairman of the local cricket association, said: “I can already say that this is definitely the best Sixes we’ve had in Hong Kong. The standard of the players has been outstanding, the matches have been great and the crowds are coming in. Overall, we are very happy with how the tournament has started.”

Shroff additionally said the “M” Mark status officially conferred on the event this week had allowed organisers to attract a number of renowned performers, among them former England Test and white-ball all-rounder Bopara, whose bid to complete an over of maximum blows fell just short when a mis-hit to the third-man boundary was expertly pouched by fast-pursuing wicketkeeper Sundeep Jora.

When captain Jora discarded the gloves to open the batting, he blazed 50 from 12 balls as Nepal chased down their target of 98 in just 26 legitimate balls for a landslide six-wicket victory.