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Cricket PlayersAs it happened, Pakistan vs Hong Kong, Asia Cup 2018, Group A 1st Match at Dubai: Pakistan beat Hong Kong by 8 wickets
As it happened: A very professional performance by Pakistan. Their fast-bowlers proved to be too good for an inexperienced Hong Kong batting lineup and then their batsmen got the target without any fuss. It was a complete performance and Pakistan look to be a well-oiled unit. A real statement made here. Before this match. the two teams faced each other just two times in the past, with Pakistan registering comfortable wins in both the matches in 2004 and 2008. Same will be expected from the Champions Trophy 2017 winners when they take to the field against the lowest-ranked side in the competition. Pakistan’s young side makes them one of the strong contenders for the tournament and their team wears a similar look to that of the team which demolished India in the Champions Trophy final, last year.
22:57 hrs IST
Will see you tomorrow
Afghanistan will take on Sri Lanka in the third match of the tournament and we will be back with live updates.
Take care... good night!
22:56 hrs IST
Usman is man of the match
Thanks to God and my parents. Obviously, when I came to bowl in the first spell, I tried to pick wickets with the new ball, but luck was not with me. Second spell, I got the ball to reverse swing and I managed to take wickets. It’s alright. I was bleeding from my feet but all is fine right now and I am fit. I just slipped a little bit so I thought it would be safe to get it checked. I’m happy with the bowling and I managed to bowl like I wanted to. It’s fun to bowl with competition, some healthy competition amongst the bowlers, and we play our cricket from session to session and give our best at all times.
22:26 hrs IST
Game...set...match... Pakistan
The spinners were good for Hong Kong, but the runs were never going to be enough. It was a stroll in the park for Pakistan in the end as they romp home with 8 wickets.
Imam gets to his 50 in the process.
22:11 hrs IST
Ehsan strikes again
The off-spinner has been the pick of the bowlers and he has got just reward. That ball was flat and quick, Babar made room and looked to cut it away, but can only edge it through to the keeper.
Pakistan lose their 2nd wicket, but are very close to the target
22:02 hrs IST
Pakistan knocking on the door
The spinners have been good, they have been a tad unlucky with the decisions, but Pakistan were never going to be stretched chasing this target.
These two are doing it without breaking any sweat, even in these sultry conditions.
21:49 hrs IST
Babar Azam looking very assured
He has a terrific record in UAE and is looking assured here. He reads the lengths of the spinners perfectly and never allows them to settle. Exemplary footwork on display at the moment.
21:42 hrs IST
Imam survives a close call
Ehsan has been on the money and this time he fires on in flat and quick. Imam was on the backfoot as he looked to work the ball away, but was trapped in front of the stumps. The on-field umpire said not out and Hong Kong referred.
And even though there does not seem to be any bat involved, ultraedge picks up a spike and the umpire thinks Imam has nicked it.
21:32 hrs IST
Ehsan bowling well
The off-spinner has been tight and is also getting the ball to turn across the left-hander. This pitch certainly has assistance for the spinners and he is really asking questions here.
21:23 hrs IST
Fakhar dismissed
Ehsan Khan, the offie bowled one flat and outside the off-stump, Zaman wanted to cut it away, but there was not room to work with and he feathers it through to the keeper.
First jolt for Pakistan and a good start for Hong Kong after the break.
21:13 hrs IST
Welcome back
The umpires are out on the field, so are the players.
Pakistan would want to finish this off in some style and make a strong statement to the rest of the teams. Can Hong Kong prize out few wickets?
20:33 hrs IST
Dinner break
Fakhar Zaman has broken the shackles and he got few boundaries. Pakistan looking very secure at 35/0 as the players take dinner.
Will be back in around 40 minutes.
20:16 hrs IST
Sedate start for Pakistan
Fakhar and Imam are looking to play their strokes, but Hong Kong have been tight so far. However, the target is not steep and it could be all over quite soon.
20:02 hrs IST
The chase begins
Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq are out there. This promises to be an interesting phase of play for Pakistan. The lights are on.
19:51 hrs IST
Hong Kong bundled out
That was a very professional effort by a very very good Pakistan attack. The fast -bowlers stuck to their guns and never allowed Hong Kong any breathing space. Should be an easy chase for Pakistan.
The final wicket was frenetic, but Sarfraz kept his wits and dislodged the stumps.
19:26 hrs IST
7th wicket down... 8th follows soon
Full and swinging back in, the batsman Scott McKechnie shuffles across and looks to flick it away, misses the ball and is bang in front of the stumps. He wants to refer, but time has run out.
He then angles a length ball and Tanwir has no clue what to do with it as the ball smashes the stumps. Pace bowling!
Pakistan cleaning up the innings.
19:17 hrs IST
Usman gets Aizaz
That was a peach from the left-armer, length ball angled back in, Aizaz on the front foot looks to defend, but the ball sneaks between bat and pad and castles the stumps. An absolute beauty!
19:08 hrs IST
Hong Kong refer, and are successful
Back of a good length from Shenwari, Aizaz looked to pull it away, is hit on the thigh pad, the umpire gave it out, but it was referred.
And, ball tracking says, it would have sailed over the stumps
19:02 hrs IST
Inconsistent from Shadab
The young leggie has been trying a lot of deliveries and his consistency has gone for a toss. Too many short balls and Sarfraz is not happy at all with his bowler. Good passage of play for Hong Kong
18:48 hrs IST
Spinners keeping it tight
Shadab and Shoaib Mailk are keeping it tight at the moment, but Pakistan could well attack and get things done. Hong Kong trying to hang in there for the time being.
18:39 hrs IST
Opportunity missed
Well, the umpire gave it a wide, but replays show the ball brushing the gloves. Hmmm, Pakistan do not refer it and well, a chance goes astray.
18:33 hrs IST
50 up for Hong Kong
50 comes up for Hong Kong in 18.3 overs. The batsmen have no clue how to play Shadab Khan and with five wickets down, Pakistan will be looking to wrap up the innings under 100.
18:23 hrs IST
Shadab strikes
Shadab Khan strikes with the first ball of his spell. It was a googly from the leg spinner and Babar Hayat made a complete mess of the delivery and was stumped for 7. Two balls later, Ehsan Khan also fell to a great delivery as he was trapped LBW for a duck. Hong Kong 44/5
18:15 hrs IST
Time for drinks
15 overs gone and Hong Kong are 42/3. It is Pakistan all the way right now as the duo of Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf is bothering the batsmen with a short pitched line and this is not looking good for Hong Kong. They have not lost many wickets but the batsmen have not looked that comfortable out in the middle.
18:05 hrs IST
Three wickets down
Hasan Ali strikes for Pakistan! Christopher Carter departs for 2 as Hong Kong are 39/3. It was a wild drive from Carter and Imam-up-Haq made no mistake in completing the catch.
18:01 hrs IST
Not much crowd in the stadium
This is not the case anymore as more people are coming in as the temperature decreases.
No one in the stadium? #PAKvHK pic.twitter.com/Ukpxj2SOM9
— Ian Pont (@Ponty100mph) September 16, 2018
17:51 hrs IST
End of first Powerplay
End of Poweplay 1 and Hong Kong are 32/2. The minnows started quite well but disciplined bowling by the Pakistan bowlers have put them in the driver’s seat. The batsmen have struggled against the short ball and that will be a big weapon for the fast bowlers in this game.
17:44 hrs IST
Hong Kong two down
Faheem Ashraf strikes for Pakistan as Hong Kong skipper Anshuman Rath departs. The ball was fractionally outside off-stump and Rath ended up edging it to Sarfaraz Khan behind the wicket. Hong Kong 32/2
17:40 hrs IST
Anshuman Rath fights back
The Hong Kong skipper is fighting back and with a boundary off Usman Khan, he has made his intentions clear. Faheem Ashraf was introduced into the attack and Rath greeted him with a boundary through the point region. Hong Kong 32/1
17:31 hrs IST
Hong Kong on the defensive
Babar Hayat is the new batsman for Hong Kong and the run rate has gone down considerably after Nizakat’s dismissal. On the other end, skipper Anshuman Rath is also taking a defensive approach against the Pakistan pacers. Hong Kong 22/1
17:23 hrs IST
Pakistan strike
Hong Kong lose their first wicket for 17 against Pakistan as Nizakat Khan is run out for 13. It was horrible running between the wickets from the opener and a direct hit from Shadab Khan spelled doom for the in-form Nizakat. Hong Kong 17/1
17:18 hrs IST
Difference in quality
Hong Kong came through the qualifying rounds and are playing for the third time in the Asia Cup after featuring in 2004 and 2008 editions.
Pakistan previously won the Asia Cup in 2000 and 2012. The third team in the group is India.
17:11 hrs IST
Nizakat looking good
The Hong Kong opener Nizakat Khan is looking in brilliant touch against the Pakistan fast bowlers and Hong Kong will be quite pleased with how they have started this game. After winning the toss, the minnows decided to bat first and a competitive total will surely put Pakistan under pressure. Hong Kong 13/0
17:04 hrs IST
Good start for Hong Kong
Mohammad Amir begins the proceedings for Pakistan and Nizakat Khan got two boundaries in the first over. Both on the leg side and this is the perfect start for Hong Kong. There was once chance for Pakistan to dismiss the opener but the catch fell short of second slip. Hong Kong 11/0
16:57 hrs IST
Time for the anthems
The teams are out in the middle and it is time for the national anthems. On paper, Pakistan are overwhelming favourites going into this match but considering the type of form Hong Kong showed in the qualifiers, it will be foolish to not give them an outside chance.
16:48 hrs IST
A look at Hong Kong XI
Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath(c), Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Christopher Carter, Ehsan Khan, Aizaz Khan, Scott McKechnie(w), Tanwir Afzal, Ehsan Nawaz, Nadeem Ahmed
16:43 hrs IST
A look at the Pakistan XI
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan
16:30 hrs IST
Hong Kong win the toss
Hong Kong have won the toss against Pakistan and will bat first. HK skipper Rath says that the wicket looks good and they will look to bat well and put a good score on the board. Sarfraz says the team is looking to do well and not look too far ahead.
15:38 hrs IST
Hello and welcome
Hello and welcome to Hindustan Times’ live blog of the 1st Group A match between Pakistan and Hong Kong at Dubai.
