Pakistan saunter to victory over hapless Hong Kong

Published September 16, 2018
Imam-ul-Haq runs between the wickets during the Asia Cup cricket match between Hong Kong and Pakistan — AFP
Imam-ul-Haq runs between the wickets during the Asia Cup cricket match between Hong Kong and Pakistan — AFP
Shadab Khan (R) celebrates with teammate after he dismissed Hong Kong batsman Babar Hayat — AFP
Shadab Khan (R) celebrates with teammate after he dismissed Hong Kong batsman Babar Hayat — AFP
Photo courtesy ICC Twitter
Photo courtesy ICC Twitter
Hong Kong batsman Aizaz Khan is dismissed by Pakistan cricketer Usman Khan — AFP
Hong Kong batsman Aizaz Khan is dismissed by Pakistan cricketer Usman Khan — AFP
Hong Kong batsman Kinchit Shah (2R) plays a shot as Pakistan cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed (L) looks on — AFP
Hong Kong batsman Kinchit Shah (2R) plays a shot as Pakistan cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed (L) looks on — AFP
Usman Khan (C) celebrates with teammates after he dismissed Hong Kong batsman Scott McKechnie — AFP
Usman Khan (C) celebrates with teammates after he dismissed Hong Kong batsman Scott McKechnie — AFP

Former champions Pakistan thrashed an inexperienced Hong Kong by eight wickets in a one-sided match to open their Asia Cup campaign in style on Sunday.

Pakistan's bowling attack was too hot to handle for Hong Kong in Dubai as Usman Shinwari finished with 3-19 and Hasan Ali took 2-19, while leg-spinner Shadab Khan managed 2-31 to bowl Hong Kong out for 116 in 37.1 overs.

Hong Kong vs King Kong: Pakistan's Asia Cup campaign to begin with a mismatch

Pakistan then completed the chase comfortably for the loss of opener Fakhar Zaman (24) and Babar Azam (33), while Imam-ul-Haq finished on 50 not out after just 23.4 overs.

It proved another cakewalk for Pakistan, like their two previous victories against Hong Kong, by 173 runs in the 2004 Asia Cup in Colombo and by 155 in Karachi four years later.

This was a perfect warm-up for Pakistan ahead of their high-profile showdown with arch rivals India, also in Dubai on Wednesday.

Hong Kong struggled after captain Anshuman Rath won the toss and chose to bat in the Group A opener.

Top-scorer Aizaz Khan (27) and Kinchit Shah (26) fought valiantly during their sixth-wicket stand of 53 runs to offer some respite after Hong Kong were left reeling at 44-5.

Skipper Rath (19) and Nizakat Khan (13) were the only other two men to reach double figures.

Bangladesh thumped Sri Lanka by 137 runs in the first Group B match in Dubai on Saturday. Afghanistan will take on Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage, with the top two from that table contesting the September 28 final in Dubai.

Teams

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan Shinwari

Hong Kong: Anshuman Rath (capt), Aizaz Khan, Babar Hayat, Mohammad Nizakat, Christopher Carter, Ehsan Khan, Ehsan Nawaz, Kinchit Shah, Nadeem Ahmed, Scott McKehnie, Tanvir Afzal

Umpires: Rod Tucker (AUS) and Ahmad Pakteen (AFG) Tv umpires: Shaun George (RSA) Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

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