PAK Vs HK, Asia Cup 2022: Ruthless Pakistan Rout Hong Kong By 155 Runs; Qualify For Super Four - Highlights

Player Of The Match

Mohammad Rizwan, for his unbeaten 78 off 57. And he reveals the gameplan: "Most important for us was to adjust to the conditions even if it is T20 cricket. The ball was keeping low."

Biggest margin of victory for Pakistan in T20Is ✅

Records tumble in Sharjah as Pakistan go through to Super Four 🙌#AsiaCup2022 | #PAKvHK pic.twitter.com/APOHUStKhT

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 2, 2022

Result

Two dots and Mohammad Ghazanfar is given LBW out. Hong Kong take the review. Clipping the off. Umpire's call. That wraps up the league stage with a host of lowest records. Pakistan won by 155 runs. They join Afghanistan, India and Sri Lanka in the Super Four. And it's another India vs Pakistan match on Sunday. HK - HK 38 (10.4); PAK 193/2 (20)

On A Hat-trick

Shadab Khan continues. And he cleans up Ayush Shukla. Bowled. Ayush goes for 1 off 5. Shadab on a hat-trick. Mohammad Ghazanfar is the new man. HK - 38/9 (10.1)

156 In 60

Three dots to Ayush Shukla, and a single to cover. Two runs and a wicket from Mohammad Nawaz's second over. 19 runs and five wickets in the last five overs. Hong Kong need 156 more runs in 60 balls. HK - 38/8 (10)

Eight Down

Ehsan Khan is the new man. And the trial by spin continues. Zeeshan Ali (3 off 5) comes down and goes for a six, but finds Iftikhar Ahmed at long-on. Third wicket for Mohammad Nawaz. Ayush Shukla is the new man. HK - 36/8 (9.1)

Seven Down

Shadab Khan continues. Three singles, then a dot to Zeeshan Ali. And a dot, then the wicket. Haroon Arshad is bowled for 3 off 4. Unreadable googly. Middle stump. Four runs and a wicket. HK - 36/7 (9)

Fine Over

Haroon Arshad is the new man, and calmly plays the last ball to deep mid-wicket for a single. Three runs and two wickets for Mohammad Nawaz in his first over. HK - 32/6 (8)

Six Down

Zeeshan Ali is the new man. And he takes a single. Then the wicket. Through the legs and middle stump gone. McKechnie goes for 4 off 6. Hong Kong need 163 runs in 73 balls. HK - 31/6 (7.5)

Five Down

Mohammad Nawaz, another spinner on. Scott McKechnie takes a single, then a dot to Kinchit Shah. And the wicket. LBW. given. Hong Kong takes the review. Low and straight. Shah goes for a slog sweep but misses the ball. Hitting the off. He goes for 6 off 10. HK - 30/5 (7.3)

165 In 78

Scott McKechnie is the new man. And a wide, down leg, to resume the play. A couple to past backward point. McKechnie sweeps and good fielding effort at square leg. A single to end the over from Shadab Khan. HK - 29/4 (7)

Four Down

Shadab Khan on with his leg break. A dot, then cleans up a fidgeting Aizaz Khan for 1 off 6. Hong Kong need 169 runs in 82 balls. HK - 25/4 (6.2)

Powerplay Over

Bowling change. Haris Rauf on. A dot, then a brilliantly time cut shot for a four past backward point. A quick single. Two dots, and a Aizaz Khan takes a single. Six from it Powerplay over. HK - 25/3 (6)

Wicket Maiden

Shahnawaz Dahani returns for his third over. Four dots, and Yasim Murtaza tries to hoick the next. Short and he fails to control it. Brilliant catch bu Khushdil Shah, running in from mid-on. Murtaza goes for 2 off 7. And a dot to the new man Aizaz Khan. Wicket maiden. HK - 19/3 (5)

Spin On

Bowling change. Iftikhar Ahmed on with his off-spin. Three singles, then a dot to Kinchit Shah. And another dot. HK - 19/2 (4)

Brilliant Over

Kinchit Shah joins Yasim Murtaza in the middle. A dot to the new man. One wide and two wickets in Naseem Shah's second over.

Two Down

Babar Hayat is the new man. A dot, then a teasing outswinger. Almost gets the outside edge. Another dot. And the wicket. Top of the middle. Very quick and little hint of movement. Hayat misses it completely. HK - 16/2 (2.5)

One Down

Naseem Shah continues, and he starts with a wide, again. Down leg. Mohammad Rizwan does well to stop it. And the wicket. Nizakat Khan tries to chip over extra cover, but straight to Asif Ali. Nizakat goes for 8 off 13. Naseem Shah on fire. HK - 16/1 (2.1)

Steady

Shahnawaz Dahani shares the new ball. A dot, then one bounce to the rope, over point, for Nizakat Khan. A couple past cover. And a dot. Two byes to fine leg. A single to end the over. Nine runs from the over. HK - 15/0 (2)

Wides

Naseem Shah starts with five wides, then five dots. Nizakat Khan takes a single off the last ball. HK - 6/0 (1)

Chase Begins

Naseem Shah with the new ball. Nizakat Khan takes the strike. Yasim Murtaza is his opening partner. Target - 194

Innings Break

Aizaz Khan with the final over. A dot to Khushdil Shah. And a bouncer. Nippy. Short ball, and it's dismissed. Over long-on. Then what! Five wides, down leg. No chance for the wicketkeeper. And another six, over mid-on. 52 in 21 balls for the third wicket. Another one. Straight. One more, over fine leg. 29 runs from the over. 77 runs in one wicket in the last 30 balls. 64 runs in 23 balls for the third wicket stand. PAK - 193/2 (20)

2/28 For Ehsan

Ehsan Khan on with the penultimate over. Four singles. And a couple to mid-wicket for Mohammad Rizwan. Another couple, to the same area. Eight from the over. 2/28 for Ehsan Khan. PAK - 164/2 (19)

Big Over

Ayush Shukla returns for his third over. Wide, down the line. One more, same corridor. And asix over long-off for Khushdil Shah. A dot, courtest a little tickle. Then a wide, down leg. A single, to fine leg. And a couple to mid-on as Khushdil Shah makes a reluctant return. One more single, then five wides. Down leg and beats the wicketkeeper, between the legs. Fourth wide in the over. A yorker to end the over. 18 from the over. 63 in the last 30 balls. PAK - 156/2 (18)

Improvisation

A dot then a single, then Mohammad Rizwan hits the fourth for a four over short fine leg. Improvisation. Then another, this time to third man for three. A very late dab. A single to end the over. Nine from the over. PAK - 138/2 (17)

Stand Broken

Ehsan Khan returns for his third over. Fakhar Zaman comes down and makes it a full toss. But he slashes it straight to Aizaz Khan at point. He goes for 53 off 41. 116-run stand in 81 balls broken. Khushdil Shah is the new man. PAK - 129/2 (16.1)  

Fakhar Fifty

Yasim Murtaza on with his final over. Fakhar Zaman hits the first ball for a for, through extra cover. Then two singles, and a six from Fakhar. 101m biggie. Fifty in 38 balls. A dot. A single to end the over. 13 from the over. 0/36 for Murtaza tonight. PAK - 129/1 (16)

100-run Stand

Mohammad Ghazanfar on with his final over. Mohammad Rizwan takes a couple to mid-wicket. Three singles, and a six. Fakhar Zaman launches over mid-wicket. 102-run stand in 73 balls. Then settles for a single. 12 from the over. 0/38 for Ghazanfar. 52 runs in the last 30 balls. PAK - 116/1 (15)

Big Stand

A single to end the over. 11 from Yasim Murtaza's third. 91-run stand in 68 balls for the second wicket. PAK - 104/1 (14)

100 Up

Yasim Murtaza returns for his third over. A single and fifty in 42 balls for Mohammad Rizwan. Fakhar Zaman takes a couple to deep midwicket. And a single to rotate the strike. Rizwan hits the next for a four, to mid-wicket. Sweeping hard. 100 up for Pakistan. And a couple to mid-wicket. Slow from Hong Kong fielders. And Rizwan takes a breather.

Rizwan Four

Mohammad Ghazanfar on with his third over. Three singles, then an inside edge. Gets through in between the legs of the keeper for a couple for Mohammad Rizwan. And a four, past backward point. Rizwan on 48. A single to end the 10-run over. 39 runs in the last 30 balls. PAK - 93/1 (13)

Singles

Aizaz Khan back for his second over. Appeal for a stumping. Very quick work. Umpires also checking for the caught behind. Mohammad Rizwan is fine. In between, that six in the previous over was Rizwan's 50th in T20Is. A single to mid-wicket, another one. Two wides, down the leg. Then three singles. Seven from the over. PAK - 83/1 (12)

First Six

Mohammad Ghazanfar on with his second over. Two singles and a couple for Fakhar Zaman to deep square leg. Another single, and the first six of the match. Mohammad Rizwan comes down and lofts straight for the maximum. 75m. And a quick single. 12 runs from the over. PAK - 76/1 (11)

50-run Stand

Yasim Murtaza continues. Five singles, and a 50-run stand in 43 balls. And one more single to end the over. 28 runs in the last 30 balls. Drinks. PAK - 64/1 (10)

Overturns

Mohammad Ghazanfar on with his first over. A dot, then a single. Mohammad Rizwan takes a couple to third man. A dot, then a single. And the leg-spinner strikes. Given LBW out. Fakhar Zaman takes the review. No bat involved. But pitching outside leg. Review saves the batter. Four runs from the over. 45-run stand in 38 balls. PAK - 58/1 (9)

Review

Yasim Murtaza gets his first over. A dot, then a one-handed sweep for a four for Mohammad Rizwan. And 50 for Pakistan. A single, a dot, then a single for Fakhar Zaman. Almost a catch. Appeal for catch. Brilliant reflex action from Scott McKechnie to go for the catch after Rizwan gets an inside edge. Umpires checking it. No catch. Six from the over. PAK - 54/1 (8)

Singles And Couples

Aizaz Khan gets his first over. A single, a wide down the leg, and one more single. Two more singles. A couple for Mohammad Rizwan, then a single to end the over. Eight from the over. PAK - 48/1 (7)

Powerplay Over

Ehsan Khan returns for his second over. A dot, then a couple to sweeper cover for Fakhar Zaman. A single. Another dot, and a single to mid-wicket. A dot to end the powerplay. Four from the over, PAK - 40/1 (6)

Rizwan Fours

Ayush Shukla returns for his second over. A wishful appeal for LBW against Mohammad Rizwan. Outside off. A single to square leg. A widish delivery and the punishment it deserves. Rizwan creams it past point. Wicketkeeper stands up. A dot, then another four to third man. Second for Rizwan. 10 from the over. PAK - 36/1 (5)

Let Off

Haroon Arshad on with his second over. A dot, then a misfield at mid-off. Four for Fakhar Zaman. And wide, outside off. Another one. Same channel. Well, also a front-foot no-ball. Free hit. Haroon produces a well-executed slower ball in the reload. Then, a let off. Fakhar plays to extra cover and gives up mid-pitch. Needed a direct hit. A single for the effort. A single, then a four to fine leg for Fakhar. 12 from the over. PAK - 26/1 (4)

Big Over

Fakhar Zaman is the new man, and he takes a single. Seven runs and one big wicket in Ehsan Khan's first over. PAK - 14/1 (3)

Babar Out

Bowling change. Spin on with Ehsan Khan. A single, a dot, then a single. Babar Azam hits the next for a four,  past short fine leg. And the wicket. Caught and bowled. Leading edge. Wonderfully taken. Another failure for Babar (9 off 8). PAK - 13/1 (2.5)

Cautious Openers

Ayush Shukla shares the new ball. Three singles, then a dot for Babar Azam. A dot, then two more singles. PAK - 7/0 (2)

Good Start

Three dots, then a single for Mohammad Rizwan to third man. A dot, then a single for Babar Azam to cover. Two runs from Haroon Arshad's first over.

Play Begins

Mohammad Rizwan to take the strike. His opening partner is Babar Azam. Haroon Arshad with the new ball.

Ready...

Players and match officials are in the middle. National anthems first.

Captains At The Toss

Nizakat Khan, Hong Kong: "We are going to make sure today that we stick to our plans and execute them... Today, we have a very good plan and I am sure that the boys will do well." He also reckons that they are very good at chasing. 

Babar Azam, Pakistan: "Would have batted first. We wanted to put runs on the board and put them under pressure." About the India game - "Our confidence is the same. It was a tight game."

Playing XIs

Both sides are unchanged.

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani.

Hong Kong: Nizakat Khan (c), Yasim Murtaza, Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Zeeshan Ali, Scott McKechnie (wk), Haroon Arshad, Ehsan Khan, Ayush Shukla, Mohammad Ghazanfar.

Toss

Hong Kong captain Nizakat Khan wins the toss and he opts to bowl first, again.

Jadeja Update

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is out of the tournament with a knee injury. Axar Patel has been named his replacement.

For The Record

There are at least five Pakistan-born players in the Hong Kong squad.

Squads

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Haider Ali.

Hong Kong: Nizakat Khan (c), Yasim Murtaza, Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Zeeshan Ali, Scott McKechnie (wk), Haroon Arshad, Ehsan Khan, Ayush Shukla, Mohammad Ghazanfar, Wajid Shah, Aftab Hussain, Dhananjay Rao, Mohammad Waheed, Ahan Trivedi, Ateeq Iqbal.

Welcome

Pakistan for sure are the overwhelming favourites against Hong Kong. But Babar Azam & Co. know that even the slightest slip-up in Sharjah tonight will end their Asia Cup 2022 campaign. The 6th match at Asia Cup is a winner-take-all clash. And anything can happen. For minnows Hong Kong, all they need is a knock-out punch. Both the teams lost to India in their respective openers. While Pakistan were suffered a five-wicket defeat, Hong Kong fell short by 40 runs. This is the first-ever T20I meeting between the two teams. But they have met three times in ODIs, with Pakistan winning all three by massive margins -- by 173 runs, 155 runs and eight wickets.