India started their Asia Cup journey after a bad nightmare; it would have been a result favoring Hong Kong if their opening had battled for few more overs the result could have been different. Most of cricket pundits adjudged this as a moral victory for Hong Kong who has shown their game to the world and told them about their capabilities against one of the top team in the world.
After winning the toss Hong Kong decided to put India to bat first in their final game of the first round of the Asia Cup. Indian batsmen dominated the game for the 40 overs in which they scored easily. At the end of 40 overs India were nearing 240 at the loss of only two wickets, the set batsman with 100 in his account was batting brilliantly; India was set to launch themselves in last 10 overs, but it was a brilliant death bowling of Hong Kong bowlers who restricted them at 285. Top order of India scored the heavy part of 285, Shikhar Dhawan, Rayudu & Karthik scored (127, 60 and 33) respectively.
As par their dismal batting performance against Pakistan, everyone was assuming this game will be a piece of cake for Indian bowlers, but HK openers have other thoughts to prove everyone wrong. They both break many records and played together for 34 overs together for 174, which is the highest partnership for any Hong Kong wicket in the limited overs Cricket. Nizakat Khan (92), Anshuman Rath (73) both played brilliant cricket, Once that first wicket partnership broken gates for India opened for first victory ahead of all important contest due in next 16 hours against Pakistan. Kuldeep Yadav got the first wicket for India when Rath tried to hit another four driving towards cover only found Rohit Sharma who was waiting for this opportunity for 204 balls. In the next over Nizakat Khan trapped in front of the wickets on the bowling of young fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed who registered his first ODI wicket. After the fall of two wickets not any other batsman of Hong Kong could stabilize the run chase and they kept losing their wickets and finished their innings 259 for 8. Khaleel and Chahal picked up three wickets each while Kuldeep finished with 2 for 42 in his 10 overs. India won by 26 runs, which
makes Pakistan and India to play in the super 4 round, as Hong Kong is knockout from the Asia Cup.
Player of the Match: On a brilliant Hundred Shikhar Dhawan (127) was awarded as the Player of the Match.
Shikhar Dhawan: “I was doing my process. I was being patient. I knew runs will come and had the belief in my process. I was not taking extra risk today. I was just played the ball on its merit.”
Smart scorecard:
India 285/7 in 50 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 127, Ambati Rayudu 60; Kinchit Shah 39/3)
Hong Kong 259/8 in 50 overs (Nizakat Khan 92, Anshuman Rath 73; Yuzvendra Chahal 46/3, K Khaleel Ahmed 48/3)
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