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Hong Kong beat UAE by two wickets in thriller to qualify for 2018 Asia Cup
In a match reduced to 24 overs-a-side due to rain, Hong Kong reached home with three balls to spare after UAE put on a competitive 176/9 in their 24 overs.
Hong Kong will join India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the 2018 edition of the Asia Cup in the UAE after they beat United Arab Emirates by two wickets in the final of the qualifying tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
In a match reduced to 24 overs-a-side due to rain, Hong Kong reached home with three balls to spare after UAE put on a competitive 176/9 in their 24 overs. UAE, who were at 65-3 when the rain came, added 111 runs upon resumption with opener Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed scoring 79 off 51 balls as Hong Kong’s Aizaz Khan claimed five wickets for 28.
Hong Kong were set a target of 179 under the Duckworth-Lewis method which they scrapped home in the last over. But Hong Kong, who recovered from losing their first match of the six-team tournament against Malaysia, looked to be in trouble when they lost two wickets in the space of three deliveries at 147-7. Two sixes by Tanwir Afzal and Scott McKechnie in the 22nd over revived Hong Kong’s chase before Afzal’s departure off the last ball of the 23rd over gave UAE hope.
But Ehsan and McKechnie took Hong Kong home and they will join India and Pakistan in Group A of the Asia Cup starting on September 15 in the UAE.
Scores: UAE: 176/9 in 24 overs (A.Ahmed 79; A.Khan 5-28, N.Ahmed 3-28); Hong Kong: 179/8 in 23.3 overs (N.Khan 38, C.Carter 33)
(With inputs from ACC website)
