KEY POINTS
- Nizakat Khan’s 42 and Yasim Murtaza’s brisk 28 powered Hong Kong to a fighting total
- Bangladesh’s Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Rishad Hossain shared four wickets
ABU DHABI: Hong Kong scored 143 for seven to set Bangladesh a target of 144 in their Asia Cup clash at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday, with Nizakat Khan top-scoring on 42 from 40 balls.
Zeeshan Ali, the wicketkeeper-opener, anchored the top order with a patient 30 off 34 balls, carefully navigating Bangladesh’s pace battery.
Partnering with him briefly, Babar Hayat (14 off 12) looked to inject momentum but was castled by an in-form Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who struck twice in his spell, also removing Zeeshan later.
Nizakat Khan, one of only two survivors from Hong Kong’s famous 2014 win over Bangladesh, top-scored with a composed 42 off 40 balls, mixing caution with calculated aggression. His dismissal in the 19th over effectively ended hopes of a 160+ finish.
Captain Yasim Murtaza, however, provided the late spark. His 28 off 19, peppered with two sixes and two fours, reminded the crowd of what Hong Kong is capable of when their fearless brand of cricket clicks. A sharp run-out, though, cut short what could have been a game-defining innings.
Bangladesh Bowlers Tighten the Screws
While Hong Kong found moments to celebrate, the innings belonged largely to Bangladesh’s bowlers. Young pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib impressed with his sharp angles and clever variations, finishing with 2 for 21 in his four overs.
Rishad Hossain, the leg-spinner, also made his presence felt, claiming 2 for 31, including the crucial wicket of Nizakat just when he threatened to break free.
Taskin Ahmed, the senior-most pacer in the side, showed his class at both ends of the innings, ending with 2 for 38, despite a few expensive deliveries.
What’s at Stake
While 143/7 isn’t a towering total by modern T20 standards, the two-paced pitch and early signs of spin may make it tricky for Bangladesh’s batters in the chase, especially during the powerplay.
As the Abu Dhabi lights shine bright and the dew begins to sneak in, Hong Kong will hope for early wickets and scoreboard pressure to play their part.
For now, the stage is set, and the chase is on. Let’s see whether Hong Kong can repeat the history of beating Bangladesh or Bangladesh take the revenge of the match in Chattogram back in 2014.
Bangladesh Squad
Litton Das (c & wk), Jaker Ali (wk), Nurul Hasan (wk), Parvez Hossain Emon, Shamim Hossain, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Saif Hassan, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed
Hong Kong, China Squad
Yasim Murtaza (c), Shahid Wasif (wk), Zeeshan Ali (wk), Anshy Rath, Babar Hayat, Kalhan Challu, Martin Coetzee, Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah, Nizakat Khan, Ali Hassan, Ateeq Iqbal, Ayush Shukla, Ehsan Khan, Mohammad Ghazanfar, Mohammad Waheed, Nasrulla Rana
