Pakistan begin Asia Cup campaign with big win
DUBAI: Pakistan romped home to an eight-wicket win over Hong Kong in their Asia Cup opener here on Sunday.
The inexperienced south-east Asian side could make only 116 before Imam-ul-haq’s unbeaten half-century took Pakistan past the finish line.
The highlight of the match though was Babar Azam becoming the second fastest to get to 2000 runs. Azam took just 45 innings, same as countryman Zaheer Abbas, to reach the mark. South Africa’s Hashim Amla was the fastest, taking just 40 innings.
Electing to bat, Hong Kong took 11 runs off the first over from Mohammed Amir but thereafter it was hard grind as they struggled get going with Usman Shinwari (3-19), Hasan Ali (2-19) and Shadab Khan (2-31) bundling them out in 37.1 overs.
Top-scorer Aizaz Khan (27) and Kinchit Shah (26) fought valiantly during their sixth wicket stand of 53 runs to offer some resistance after Hong Kong were left reeling at 44/5.
Shinwari returned to remove Aizaz and two others as Hong Kong lost three wickets without a run at 97.
Pakistan’s left-handed openers Imam and Fakhar Zaman began well and took their team to 35 without loss at the dinner break. Zaman fell soon after the break. Imam (50*) was then joined by Azam (33) and the two added 52 for the second wicket.
For Hong Kong, the Pakistanborn off-spinner Ehsan Khan took two for 34 to end as the only successful bowler from his side. 6-97, 7-97, 8-97, 9-99.
Bowling: Amir 7-1-20-0, Usman 7.3-1-19-3, Faheem 4-0-10-1, Hasan 7.1-0-19-2, Shadab 8-1-31-2, Malik 3-0-17-0, Fakhar 0.3-0-0-0.
PAKISTAN
I Haq not out 50 (69) F Zaman c Mckechnie b Ehsan 24 (27) B Azam c Mckechnie b Ehsan 33 (36) S Malik not out 9 (11) Extras (nb1,w3)4
Total (for 2 wkts in 23.4 ovs) 120 FOW: 1-41, 2-93.
Bowling: Tanwir 4-2-13-0, Ehsan 4-0-27-0, Aizaz 3.4-0-19-0, Ehsan 8-0-34-2, Nadeem 4-0-27-0. Pakistan won by 8 wkts.