KEY POINTS
- Captain Litton Das scores a fluent 59 off 39 balls and anchors a match-winning 92-run stand with Towhid Hridoy
- Towhid Hridoy played a steady hand, finishing unbeaten on 35 off 36 balls
ABU DHABI: Bangladesh cruised to their first win in the Asia Cup 2025, defeating Hong Kong by seven wickets in a clinical chase at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday, with captain Litton Das leading from the front and Towhid Hridoy offering a steady finish.
Chasing a target of 144, Bangladesh looked calm and composed, reaching 144/3 in 17.4 overs, thanks to a 92-run partnership between captain Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy that shut the door on any Hong Kong comeback hopes.
Captain Leads the Charge
After early wickets saw Parvez Hossain Emon (19 off 14) and Tanzid Hasan (14 off 18) fall cheaply, Litton Das steadied the innings with a fluent 59 off 39 balls, laced with six boundaries and a six.
Litton paced the innings perfectly, accelerating after the powerplay and punishing anything loose.
He brought up his fifty in style, mixing calculated risks with classical strokeplay, before being bowled by Ateeq Iqbal in the 18th over, just two runs short of victory.
Hridoy Holds Firm
At the other end, Towhid Hridoy played the anchor’s role to perfection. His 35 off 36 may not have been flashy, but it was essential in keeping the chase on track.
Rotating strike consistently and showing patience against spin, Hridoy ensured Bangladesh didn’t lose momentum after early stutters.
Hong Kong Struggle Despite Early Blows
Hong Kong had a decent start with the ball. Ayush Shukla removed Emon, while Ateeq Iqbal picked up two wickets, dismissing Tanzid and the well-set Litton Das. But the rest of the bowling attack lacked penetration.
Yasim Murtaza and Ehsan Khan were expensive, leaking runs at nearly 10 per over, and the lack of scoreboard pressure allowed Bangladesh to cruise home with 14 balls to spare.
Earlier, Hong Kong posted a target of 144. 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.
