Hong Kong make India sweat for win

STUNNING PARTNERSHIP BY HONG KONG OPENERS GOES IN VAIN AS INDIA SCRAPE THROUGH

Hong Kong made India sweat profusely for their victory in the fourth match of the Unimoni Asia Cup at the Dubai International stadium. This associate country, which has very little facility for cricket and only around 800 registered cricketers playing in their league, displayed the verve to give India, one of the finest teams in One Day cricket, a fright. Hong Kong fell short of the target by only 26 runs.

At one stage, it looked like Hong Kong would record one of the biggest upsets in the history of One Day Internationals. None expected this match to be competitive considering the might and reputation of India as a One-day side. Though Shikhar Dhawan’s fluent century and Ambati Rayudu comeback knock of 60 gave India a total of 285 for 7, the way Hong Kong restricted India’s run flow was remarkable.

Hong Kong’s Mumbai-born Kinchit Shah took three wickets with his accurate off spin and in the last ten overs India could muster only 48 runs.

Dhawan cracked 127 runs off 120 balls with 15 boundaries and a six while Rayudu’s 60 runs came off 70 balls with three boundaries and two sixes. Hong Kong, who put India into bat actually walked off the field with their heads held high after giving away only 48 runs in the last ten overs and preventing the mighty Indians from reaching the 300-run mark.

Nizakat and skipper Anshuman gave a stunning start putting on 174 runs in 34.1 overs. It was Hong Kong’s highest ever opening partnership, beating their best of 170 between the same pair against Scotland in 2016. Nizakat from Attock in Pakistan reached his half century in style by pulling Shardul Thakur for a six. Twenty-yearold Anshuman, whose parents hail from Orissa in India, who initially played second fiddle began to stroke beautifully. He fell after hitting 73 runs off 97 balls with four boundaries and six when he drove Kuldeep Yadav uppishly to Rohit Sharma at cover.

After the partnership was broken, India’s debutant 20-year-old Khaleel Ahmad trapped Nizakat leg before for 92. Nizakat returned to a standing ovation for his 115ball knock which contained 12 boundaries and a six.

Though India won the match, they will have to recover in time from this nightmare when they take on their arch rivals Pakistan today.

Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan celebrates after completing his century against Hong Kong in their Asia Cup match in Dubai yesterday. Dhawan’s knock helped India to a total of 285 for 7.

Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Indian captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot against Hong Kong in their first Unimoni Asia Cup 2018 match in Dubai yesterday.

Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Excited fans raise the Tricolour in support of India at the Dubai International Cricket stadium.

Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Hong Kong’s Ehsan Khan celebrates after claiming the wicket of Indian captain Rohit Sharma.