Lamma Cricket Club of Hong Kong returns to Shanghai on July 21 to play the Shanghai Cricket Club in the Breezer Challenge. The two clubs last met in 2011 when Shanghai successfully defended the challenge, retaining the Breezer Challenge Trophy for a second year.

The 50-over Breezer Challenge match between Lamma and the SCC Dragons will be followed by an awards reception and dinner at the Camel Sports Bar in Puxi. A Twenty20 match between the tourists and the SCC Pirates will take place on Sunday. Welcome drinks for the tourists will be held at the Big Bamboo, Nanyang on Friday, July 20.

The Breezer Challenge dates to 2003 when the two clubs first played for the unique trophy in Hong Kong. Unlike more traditional cricket matches, the “toss” at the beginning of the Breezer Challenge is a full team boat race, with the winning club given the choice of fielding or batting.

The two clubs have played a total of five matches so far, with Lamma winning the first three in 2003, 2005 and 2006, and Shanghai winning the last two in 2008 and 2011.

The Breezer Challenge Trophy was originally constructed in Hong Kong for the inaugural Breezer Challenge in 2003. The Trophy has a history as long and chequered as the event itself, with unsubstantiated claims of winning players imbibing from the embedded bottle, to the entire trophy disappearing for long stretches of time.

All are welcome at the SRFC on July 21 to see the return of this illustrious event. Play begins at 10 am. Buses departing from the Camel and Big Bamboo. Download the schedule of events.The