01:10 hrs IST
That’s it, thanks for joining us
That’s it from us for this match do join us tomorrow for the marquee match of the tournament as India take on Pakistan.
01:08 hrs IST
That’s It, India win
It looked unlikely at one stage but India finally overcome Hong Kong by 26 and qualify for the next stage of the tournament.
00:58 hrs IST
Last over! 30 runs required
We are into the last over. HKG require 30 runs to win.
00:48 hrs IST
Kuldeep strikes again
McKechnie, Hong Kong keeper is stumped by Dhoni off Kuldeep and it’s all but curtains now for them.
00:45 hrs IST
Getting tougher and tougher
It’s getting tougher and tougher for Hong Kong, the required run rate is nearly 13 and against seasoned campaigners it’s nigh on impossible.
00:36 hrs IST
Chahal takes three quick wickets
Kinchit, Hong Kong’s star with the ball, tries to for a big hit but only manages to miscue it to Dhawanand Hong Kong are five down. Very next ball Aizaz khan is gone for a golden duck.
{{/usCountry}}Kinchit, Hong Kong’s star with the ball, tries to for a big hit but only manages to miscue it to Dhawanand Hong Kong are five down. Very next ball Aizaz khan is gone for a golden duck.
{{/usCountry}}00:33 hrs IST
India keeping their cool
Despite Hong kong not giving up the ghost, India re keeping their cool and are making things tough. Hong Kong will have to play out of their skins to get this total. Great effort though by them.
00:26 hrs IST
Hong Kong still in this
Hong kong are still in this. The runs are coming and the runrate of 9 or 10 can be managed for a short span.
00:16 hrs IST
Chahal gets Hayat
Yuzvendra Chahal gets into the act, he gets Babar hayat who tries to go down town but only manages to edge it to Dhoni who makes no mistake. HKG 199/4.
00:08 hrs IST
Another wicket for India
OUT!!! Khaleel gets another, he has Christopher Carter caught behind for only 2 and India are now favorites with run rate of more than 9.
00:05 hrs IST
Hong Kong still fighting
Hong Kong are still going strong, Babar Hayat has picked up the mantle.
23:54 hrs IST
Another one goes
OUT!!! Nizakat goes this time! And it’s the debutant Khaleel who has him plumb in front for a well made 92.
23:47 hrs IST
Breakthrough for India
India finally get a wicket and it’s Kuldeep who strikes. Now can India capitalize and get more wickets.
23:31 hrs IST
Poor from India
This has been incredibly poor by India, the attack has looked toothless, spinners haven’t looked effective and so far this has been a cruise.
23:25 hrs IST
150 up for Hong Kong
Hong kong are looking a serious threat to India, 150 is up and still no wicket down. Shardul has been disappointing to say the least, wayward bowling!!!!!
23:16 hrs IST
50 for Rath
Captain’s innings by Rath! He brings up his 50 and he has complemented Nizakat Khan brilliantly. he though needs to carry on if Hong Kong are to pull this off.
23:13 hrs IST
Bowling a worry?
Even if India win this match, based on this match’s performance bowling is a big worry for India. Imagine if they have to bowl again in 18 hours’ time.
23:03 hrs IST
Fun fact!!
Hong Kong were bowled out for 116 in their first matcha against Pakistan, but today their first wicket partnership has added more than that :)
23:01 hrs IST
India keeping it tight
India are keeping it tight. Just one and twos along with dot balls. The run rate meanwhile is increasing all the time. Hong Kong have to keep up the good work.
22:52 hrs IST
India have to guard against boundaries
Hong Kong are in command at the moment and India should look to dry out the boundaries and force them to earn their runs.
22:44 hrs IST
Rohit has to react
The skipper turned to Kedar Jadhav, but these Hong Kong batsmen are on track, they are not blinking. It seems all cosy at the moment, but they have to keep batting and take one over at a time.
India are under pressure, oh yes, they are!
22:35 hrs IST
Excellent batting
The spinners will be a threat but these two openers are not going for any expansive strokes. They are content in milking them for singles, good, sensible batting. They have brought up a century stand and India have to react and react fast.
Boy, India are under pressure here!
22:26 hrs IST
India lose review
Sign of desperation? perhaps but Kuldeep has a LBW appeal turn down and upon advice Rohit goes upstairs but the ball has clearly pitched outside leg stump and the review is lost.
22:10 hrs IST
Spin twins into the attack
Real test on the cards for Hong Kong, both the wrist spinners are into the attack and they will test the batsmen.
22:10 hrs IST
50 for Nizakat
What an innings by Nizakat Khan, he plonks Shardul Thakur over midwicket to bring up his 50. On the other hand it has been thoroughly disappointing from Thakur who bowled 3 no balls in the 12th over.
22:00 hrs IST
End of 1st Powerplay
End of first powerplay and Hong Kong have made a decent fist of it. Nizakat Khan especially has looked very good! is there a upset on the cards? HKG 56/0
21:53 hrs IST
Nizakat looking dangerous
Nizakat Khan is looking dangreous, he has reaced to 38 and just smacked Bhuvi for two consecutive boundaries.
21:47 hrs IST
Hong Kong up the ante
Hong Kong have upped the ante against India, a few boundaries have come in the last couple of overs and the underdogs are showing intent. HKG38/0
21:35 hrs IST
Steady start by Hong Kong
it’s been a steady start by Hong Kong, They have not lost any wicket and so farlooked not that disturbed by India’s bowling.
21:25 hrs IST
Good start by Khaleel
Impressive start by Khaleel, only one run of the over by India’s 222nd ODI player.
21:13 hrs IST
Hong Kong chase underway
Hong Kong’s pursuit of 286 is underway. How many can they get?
20:44 hrs IST
India finish on 285/7
India finish their innings on 285/7. The late onslaught that was expected never came and Hong Kong bowled brilliantly in the death overs. This total should be too much for Hong Kong.
20:37 hrs IST
Bhuvneshwar goes
India have lost another wicket, Bhuvneshwar tries to deposit Kinchit over the leg side but only manages to find midwicket.
20:29 hrs IST
India taking it easy?
Although India have already got a score that should prove too much more Hong Kong, the team should not be complacent. The assault that was expected just hasn’t come. 47th over produced just 3 runs!!!
20:22 hrs IST
Scoring has slowed down
After losing three quick wickets the scoring has slowed down! Bhuvneshwar not a renowned hitter and Kedar is just making a comeback.
20:15 hrs IST
And now Karthik perishes
Woah, this is a collapse. First Shikhar Dhawan, then MS Dhoni, and then Dinesh Karthik. HKG have struck thrice. Karthik wanted to sweep is fine, but the top edge and the fielder at deep mid-wicket runs around and completes a smart catch
20:10 hrs IST
Dhoni departs
Well, well, stunned silence in the stadium as MS Dhoni has failed to trouble the scorers. He looked to guide the ball on off-stump towards point, but feathers it through to the keeper.
20:04 hrs IST
Dhawan departs
He was certainly looking to go after the bowlers and this time does not connect as well. He looked to thrash the full ball away towards deep mid-wicket, but the top edge goes to point.
A stellar effort, nonetheless!
20:00 hrs IST
Dhawan opening up
The left-hander is looking to tonk every ball he faces and his feet are firmly on the accelerator. He is connecting them at the moment as India are on the charge
19:53 hrs IST
Review lost
Hong Kong have lost their review, a LBW decision by umpire Rob Tucker is challenged and sent upstairs but the replays show that the umpire was right.
19:44 hrs IST
Dhawan scores ton
Shikhar Dhawan brings up his 14th international ODI century. India poised for a big score. India 198/2.
19:34 hrs IST
India rebuild
After losing Rayudu, India are rebuilding with Dhawan and Karthik, the two have added 22 and are looking comfortable.
19:23 hrs IST
Karthik the next man in
Dinesh karthik has walked in at the fall of Rayudu’s wicket . Time hor the KKR captain to show what he can do after a disappointing series in England.
19:13 hrs IST
Rayudu goes
OUT!!! At Long last Hong Kong have their break through, a much needed one. Rayudu goes for 60 and that was quite a brilliant catch by Hong Kong wicket keeper McKechnie.
19:05 hrs IST
50 for Rayudu
Ambati rayudu has brought up his 50 against Hong Kong, the partnership for the second wicket is now over 100. Hong Kong are in for a long afternoon. They need wickets to slow the scoring down.
19:00 hrs IST
100 run partnership
Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayadu have brought up 100 run partnership for the second wicket! Both look well set for a big score.
18:52 hrs IST
Half way stage
we have reached the half way stage and Inid are in a solid position. India are 135/1 and have two set batsmen at the crease. It will be a tough next 25 overs for Hong Kong.
18:42 hrs IST
Dhawan looks ominous
Shikhar Dhawan looks in ominous form, That is bad news for Hong Kong. Dhawan had a poor series in England and he would look to make amends here.
18:32 hrs IST
Breaking the shackles
After a quiet period, Dhawan and Rayudu got the freebies from Nizakat Khan and they helped themselves to 15 runs in that over. India look firmly in control.
18:23 hrs IST
Rayudu on his recent struggles
“Obviously it was frustrating to miss out on the England tour. But I’m happy that I could come back, give the test and get picked to play in the Asia Cup. This year I played well in the IPL. The main thing is that I feel age doesn’t matter as long as you are fit,” he said in the pre-match presser
18:17 hrs IST
Another sweltering day in Dubai
It was an elongated drinks break, and rightly so, the conditions are very taxing and the players need to keep themselves hydrated as much as possible.
18:08 hrs IST
Spinners keeping it tight
This partnership is chugging along, but they have to deal in singles as the spinners are keeping it tight and not offering any freebies.
17:51 hrs IST
Dhawan looking good
Ahh, the conditions. After the wretched time in England against the moving red ball, Shikhar Dhawan looks so much more at home on a placid pitch against the white ball which is not moving at all and he is making merry.
17:40 hrs IST
Rohit dismissed
Well, he looked to chip down the track and loft the off-spinner over long on. The ball did not spin and it got the top edge as mid-off settled down under it and pouched the catch with ease
17:27 hrs IST
Opening their shoulders
After getting their eye in, both the openers are now looking to go for their strokes. Well, there is no movement on offer and they are getting their feet down and slamming the ball on the up.
17:12 hrs IST
Steady start for India
There is not much assistance on this pitch for the seamers and this is just what the Indian openers like. They are looking cautious, but are putting away the not so good deliveries.
17:01 hrs IST
Rohit Sharma takes guard
It will be a good test for Rohit, the captain, but for now, the batsman has to get the job done. His partner is Shikhar Dhawan, who had a torrid time in England against the red ball, and would be keen to score some runs in familiar conditions.
16:56 hrs IST
What a day for young Khaleel Ahmed
Congratulations to young Khaleel Ahmed as he becomes the 222nd player to represent #TeamIndia in ODIs. pic.twitter.com/jXSZhd89qd— BCCI (@BCCI) September 18, 2018
16:48 hrs IST
Debut for Khaleel, batsmen to get workout before the match against Pakistan
Arnab Sen, Sports Editor - HT Digital: The team management has done well to hand young Khaleel Ahmed a debut. The Indian team lacks a left-arm pacer and in the run up to the World Cup, it is crucial that the team keeps looking for the missing pieces of the jigsaw. The fact that India is getting to bat first should work well for the team as the batsmen will get to spend time in the middle ahead of the crucial tie against Pakistan.
16:43 hrs IST
Teams are out
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Khaleel Ahmed
Hong Kong: Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath(c), Babar Hayat, Christopher Carter, Kinchit Shah, Ehsan Khan, Aizaz Khan, Scott McKechnie(w), Tanwir Afzal, Ehsan Nawaz, Nadeem Ahmed
16:36 hrs IST
Toss: Hong Kong win it and will bowl first
Rath: We will have a bowl first. We want to get out there as bowling is our strength. I think the way we batted against Pakistan, we want to rectify that. Bowling is our strength and we’ll look to go out there with a smile. There’s a bit of grass so chasing is easier under the lights.
Rohit Sharma: Getting used to the conditions as quickly as possible is needed in this part of the world. We are ready for and the boys are ready to do. Asia Cup has a long history over the years and it’s a competitive tournament. You got to put your best foot forward. A lot of guys are playing for the first time. It’s exciting for them and me as well. It has been one of the concerns over the years. Our batting has dominated but our bowling has come a long way in recent times. I am quite excited with our middle order and it’s a challenge for all of us to bat in such conditions.
16:28 hrs IST
Debut for Khaleel
It has been some rise for the young man. The Under-19 star from the batch of Rishabh Pant will now run in with the new ball for India.
Here is how he reacted to his India call-up.
16:19 hrs IST
Spots available in the side
Head coach Ravi Shastri believes there are spots available in this Indian side and it is upto the players to grab this opportunity and nail down their names for the different positions.
16:00 hrs IST
Hello and welcome
In the searing Dubai heat, where the mercury has risen up to 43 degree Celsius, the primary aim for the Men in Blue would be to get their combination right before the big game against Pakistan on Wednesday. Hong Kong lost their opener against Pakistan by eight wickets in a thoroughly one sided showdown where they could manage only 116 runs. Unless a miracle happens, there won’t be a remarkable improvement in their performance against an Indian team that boasts of the likes of Rohit, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Kedar Jadhav in batting along with Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in bowling.