Cricket News Asia Cup 2023

'An absolutely dominating performance' -Twitter excited as Pakistan clinically demolish Hong Kong

It was a clinical performance from Pakistan in the end, who outscored Hong Kong in every department, be it with bat, ball and in the field.

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Akshay
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Pakistan

Pakistan- Source (Twitter)

Pakistan Pakistan- Source (Twitter)

The sixth match of the Asia Cup kicked off between Pakistan and Hong Kong. The latter won the toss and opted to bowl first on a slow Sharjah wicket. Pakistan were handed the early blow with Eshan Khan getting rid of Babar Azam for 9 runs with a delivery that held on to the pitch.

There would have been panic in the Pakistan camp but all of that was put to rest with Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman who played rather sedately at the start. But once they got their eye in, they took control over the Hong Kong bowling attack who gave nothing away for 18 overs.

Rizwan played a rather laborious knock wherein he had to work hard for his runs. The Pakistani wicketkeeper essayed a brilliant innings. He scored a superb 78 off 57 balls, which had 6 fours and a six but the best part of his innings was how he got the ball into the gaps and ran hard for singles and doubles in between the big shots.

Fakhar Zaman was the ideal foil for Rizwan as he used his long levers to good effect and scored an attacking 53 off 41 balls which was laced with 3 fours and 2 maximums. Pakistan needed some big hits at the end, and it was provided by Khushdil Shah, who blazed away to 35 in just 15 deliveries, providing Pakistan with a much-needed finishing kick.

Shah, in particular, tore into Aizaz Khan in the final over and smashed him for four sixes which propelled Pakistan to a big total of 193-2. For Hong Kong, Haroon Ashraf bowled well in his 2-over spell. Eshan Khan was the best of the lot who bowled beautifully and conceded just 28 runs in his 4-over spell and picked up the big wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam.

The target of 193 was always going to be an uphill task for Hong Kong as they knew they would have to score big in the powerplay to stay in the match. It did not happen as Naseem Shah disturbed the Hong Kong top-order straightaway by accounting for the wickets of Nizakat Khan and Babar Hayat who got out in just his fourth ball.

Shanawaz Dahani also got into the wicket's column by scalping Yamin Murtuza for just 2 runs. Aizaz Khan could not gauge Shadab Khan's flighted googly and was bowled trying to cut the ball. Mohammad Nawaz got Kinchit Shah lbw soon after. Nawaz accounted for Scott Mckechnie, who was trying to sweep and got bowled.

Shadab Khan dismissed Harron, who was looking to flick the ball and got bowled. Hong Kong further dug themselves into a deep hole as Zeeshan was caught off Nawaz when he tried to go big. Shadab got Ayush Shukla through the gate in his second over. He also got the last scalp on the fourth ball of his second spell. It was a clinical performance from Pakistan in the end.

Twitter was abuzz, let us take a look at the reactions here:

 

 

 

Cricket News Asia Cup 2022