With amazing knocks from Mohammed Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah, the Pakistani side completely blew Hong Kong away in the Asia Cup match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. Shah scored an unbeaten 35 off 15 balls, with 5 sixes as Pakistan made a mammoth 193/2 on the board.
In response, Hong Kong were bowled out for 38, thus giving away a 155-run victory to Babar Azam and his men, who now have become the fourth team to qualify for Super Four.
Spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz scalped four and three wickets respectively. Young gun Naseem Shah picked two for the team, while Shahnawaz Dahani also scalped a wicket. Although, after losing the toss and coming out to bat, the Shaheens got off to a slow start and lost skipper Babar only on 9 runs.
Following his dismissal Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman then made a 116-run stand for the second wicket. Rizwan scored a 57 ball 78, while Fakhar scored 53 off 41 balls before Ehsan Khan getting the better off him, who scalped both the Pakistan wickets.
Khushdil, who joined in later time of the innings, provided Pakistan the extra edge and the much-needed push towards the end. He smashed four sixes in the final over bowled by Aizaz Khan, helping his side post a humongous score at the board, for the Hong Kong boys to chase up.
With this Pakistan will meet India once again on Sunday as part of the Super 4 fixtures.
