Pakistan set up a second showdown against arch-rivals India on Sunday with a record 155-run win over Hong Kong in a must-win Asia Cup match in Sharjah on Friday.
Chasing 194, Hong Kong were simply blown away with the Pakistan attack proving to be too good for them. Their innings folded up for just 38 in 10.4 overs, sending Pakistan into the Super Fours as the second-placed team from Group A.
Out of 38, 10 runs came from extras, with none of the batters managing a double digit score. This was Pakistan’s biggest win in the shortest format. Hong Kong batters failed to put up any resistance after Naseem Shah struck twice in the third over of the innings.
Then it was the turn of the spinners, Shadab Khan (4/8) and Mohammad Nawaz (3/5), to do the damage as they shared seven wickets. Hong Kong gave away 55 runs in the last three overs as Pakistan galloped to 193 for 2 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan were put in to bat on a slow pitch and struggled for most of the innings before reaching an intimidating total in the closing stages. Mohammad Rizwan top scored with 78 not out off 57 balls but Khushdil Shah played a blinder, making 35 not out off 15 balls, to leave Hong Kong in tatters. In the final over of the innings, Aizaz Khan yielded 29 runs which included four sixes by Khushdil.
The last five overs produced 77 while 129 came off the last ten as all of Hong Kong’s hard work in the first ten came to nothing. A miraculous escape for Pakistan when even 160 at one stage looked difficult. Like they had done against India, Hong Kong bowlers did well to keep Pakistan quiet for majority of the innings before losing their way. Pakistan lost captain Babar Azam in the third over but Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman added 116 runs for the second wicket.
Fakhar made 53 off 41 balls before being dismissed in the 17th over. “We played according to the wicket. The plan was to keep wickets in hand in the first ten, and then hit in the last ten. That worked for us,” Fakhar said. “There was a lot of heat and sweat as usual in the UAE. If you have wickets at the end here, you can put up a good score, like we did today.” The first six of the innings came in the 11th over when Rizwan stepped out to leg-spinner Mohammad Ghazanafar to tonk it straight over the bowler’s head.
With Pakistan in dire need of big hits, Fakhar was able to release some pressure by smashing the spinners for a couple of sixes. Struggling in the heat and humidity, Rizwan was able to change gears after completing his half-century. Lacking experience, the Hong Kong bowlers once again lost the plot in the death overs.
Brief scores: Pak 193/2 in 20 ovs (Md Rizwan 78 n.o., Fakhar Zaman 53, Khushdil Shah 35 n.o.). Hong Kong 38 in 10.4 ovs (Shadab Khan 4/8, Md Nawaz 3/5). Pak won by 155 runs.
