Hong Kong will all but secure progress to the semi-finals if they overcome Bahrain on Tuesday - with victory in the last four on Friday worth a place in next year’s global T20 showpiece in USA and West Indies.

South Africa-born Coetzee is playing his first international cricket in the Nepal qualifying tournament, after completing his three-year residency period. And the destructive opener admitted his hard hitting against Kuwait was the product of an interminable wait to wear Hong Kong colours.

“It has been the longest three years of my life, I could not wait for the time to disappear,” Coetzee told the Post. “I want to make the most of representing Hong Kong and contribute as much as I can.

“The squad has been so good since I joined, and as a team it is a massive goal to go to the World Cup.

“Simon [Willis, head coach] explained to us, we are climbing Everest here, we are not going to do it in one day - this was the first step.”

Coetzee scored only three runs from his opening three international innings during a tri-series warm-up in Nepal.

But the 35-year-old clobbered 86 from 55 balls - including 64 in boundaries - against UAE in the final pre-qualifying friendly, before going to town on Kuwait.

Babar Hayat added a breezy 31, although late wickets slowed Hong Kong’s progress.

Kuwait slumped to 17 for three in reply, and despite some middle-order defiance - led by captain Mohammed Aslam, whose quickfire 52 ended when Yasim Murtaza held on to a spectacular catch off characteristically stingy off-spin bowler Ehsan Khan - finished 16 runs shy of Hong Kong’s daunting total.

“We have some calm, experienced heads, and felt we were in control in the field,” Coetzee said. “We knew they batted deep and swung hard, so there was always going to be a partnership or two.

“But we made the breakthrough with a fantastic catch from Yasim, and were in control from then on. Kuwait have been a bogey team in the past, and I could see the relief in a lot of faces. It was a competitive game and will help us so much mentally for the tough matches to come.”

Coetzee shared a 101-opening stand with evergreen captain Nizakat Khan, and insisted Hong Kong posted a par score, at least, despite failing to accelerate in the closing overs.

“I am quite aggressive, and it is a confidence game for player like me,” Coetzee added.

“If you have a few low scores, you doubt yourself. I had a tough start, but got through that little patch and am confident for these qualifiers, so the timing is perfect.

“When I am confident, I back myself to go hard and put the bowlers under pressure.

“It is going well and, hopefully, it can continue for the next week. When I lost my wicket, I said 165 was a good score.

“The wicket was getting slower and turning a lot, and we did well to end up there.

“This first win has done us the world of good.”