Pakistan vs Hong Kong, Asia Cup Highlights: Pakistan Make Light Work Of Hong Kong, Win By 8 Wickets

Pakistan kick-started their Asia Cup campaign with a thumping 8-wicket win against Hong Kong in their first match of the tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Imam-ul-Haq (50) and Shoaib Malik (9) remained unbeaten as Pakistan comfortably chased down a paltry target of 117 runs with 158 balls remaining. Registering the first win of the competition, Pakistan are now at the top in Group A with 2 points which has India and Hong Kong as the other two teams. After losing the toss, Pakistan bowlers tore apart the Hong Kong batting line-up with a superb display. Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals as Pakistan bowlers gave no opportunity to Hong Kong batsmen to rebuild after a troubled start. At one stage, Hong Kong were reeling at 44/5 but a 53-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Kinchit Shah (26) and Aizaz Khan (27) helped them get past the 100-run mark. Usman Khan was the most impressive bowler for Pakistan as he picked up three wickets for 19 runs. Hasan Ali (2/19) and Shadab Khan (2/31) shared four wickets between them, while Faheem Ashraf ended with figures of 1/10. Chasing a small target, Pakistan lost wickets of Fakhar Zaman (24) and Babar Azam (33) both getting out to off-spinner Ehsan Khan. Imam-ul-Haq was the highest scorer for Pakistan, who played an unbeaten 50-run knock, guiding Pakistan to an easy win. (Highlights)

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Highlights between Pakistan vs Hong Kong 2nd ODI, 2018 Asia Cup, straight from Dubai International Cricket Stadium

22:30 IST: Thank you for joining us on our live coverage of the match between Pakistan and Hong Kong. 

Match 2, Asia Cup, 2018, Sep 16, 2018

Match Ended

PAK

120/2 (23.4)

HK

116/10 (37.1)

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Pakistan beat Hong Kong by 8 wickets

Pakistan register a comfortable 8-wicket win against Hong Kong. 

Pakistan cruise to victory in their #AsiaCup2018 opener! Imam-ul-Haq top scores with 50* as they knock off their target of 117 in 23.4 overs to beat Hong Kong by 8 wickets!#PAKvHK scorecard https://t.co/m411ePp9Q8 pic.twitter.com/FmHfD3RI6O

— ICC (@ICC) September 16, 2018

22:27 IST: Four and Pakistan register a thumping 8-wicket win against Hong Kong in their first match of Asia Cup. Imam-ul-Haq (50) and Shoaib Malik (9) remain unbeaten. 

22:26 IST: 50 comes up for Imam-ul-Haq! Taps the ball on the on-side, takes a single to get to his first fifty in ODI cricket. Pakistan 116-2 after 23.3 overs.

22:23 IST: FOUR! Imam-ul-Haq hits a boundary on the last ball of Ehsan Khan's over. He has now moved on to 49 runs. Pakistan now require 3 more runs to win. Pakistan 114-2 after 23 overs.

22:14 IST: Six and 100 comes up for Pakistan! Imam-ul-Haq flat-bats that one from Ehsan Nawaz over long long on to collect six runs. Terrific shot from the left-hander. Imam has now moved in to the forties with that shot. Pakistan 102-2 after 21.1 overs.

22:09 IST: OUT! Ehsan Khan strikes for Hong Kong. Babar Azam walks back after scoring 33 runs. Another loose shot from the Pakistan batsmen. Trying to go for a cut shot, Babar only manages to edge the ball. Scott McKechnie takes a good catch behind the stumps. Pakistan 93-2 after 20.2 overs.

22:05 IST: Bowling change for Hong Kong! Ehsan Nawaz comes in to replace Nadeem Ahmed.

21:59 IST: FOUR! Another boundary for Babar Azam. Cuts the ball close to his body. The ball beats the point fielder and races to the fence. Pakistan are doing it pretty comfortably at the moment. They require another 29 runs more to win. Pakistan 88-1 after 17.5 overs.

21:56 IST: FOUR! Shimmy down the track from Babar Azam. Gets to the pitch of the ball and times the ball to perfection. Hits the ball along the ground to collect four runs. The ball beats the long-on fielder comfortably. Pakistan 82-1 after 17.1 overs.

21:48 IST: FOUR! The left-hand right-hand combination working pretty well at the moment for Pakistan. Babar Azam rocks on to the back-foot and punches Ehsan Khan through point region to collect four runs. Hong Kong bowlers are struggling to find the correct line and length against Babar and Imam. Pakistan 71-1 after 15 overs.

21:43 IST: SIX! Babar Azam charges down the ground and hits Nadeem Ahmed against the spin for a six. The ball comfortably sails over the long-on fence. Beautifully timed shot from inform Babar Azam. Pakistan 62-1 after 13.2 overs.

21:39 IST: Review from Hong Kong! Original decision is not out. And the decision stays. Replay shows that the ball hit the edge of the bat before hitting the pads. Ehsan Khan is disappointed with the decision. Imam-ul-Haq survives. Pakistan 56-1 after 12.4 overs.

21:35 IST: 50 up for Pakistan! Imam-ul-Haq guides Nadeem Ahmed's ball to third man region to collect a couple of runs. Pakistan 51-1 after 11.2 overs. Need another 66 runs more to win with 9 wickets remaining.

21:30 IST: After the first power-play Pakistan have 46 on the board for the loss of one wicket. Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq are at the centre as they require another 71 runs more to win with 40 overs remaining. 

21:21 IST: OUT! Off-spinner Ehsan Khan strikes on the first ball of his spell. The ball was too close to cut, Fakhar Zaman goes for it and only manages an edge. Scott McKechnie takes a sharp catch behind the stumps. Zaman walks back after scoring 24 runs. Pakistan 41-1 after 8.1 overs. 

21:17 IST: FOUR! Imam-ul-Haq ends the first over from Aizaz Khan after the break with a boundary. Takes a couple of steps down the ground and places the ball beautifully between cover and right of the mid-off fielder.  Pakistan 41-0 after 8 overs. 

21:13 IST: Openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq are back at the centre to resume the run-chase for Pakistan. Aizaz Khan will bowl the first over for Hong Kong after the break. 

Dinner break - Pakistan 35-0 after 7 overs. Need 82 runs more to win with 10 wickets remaining. 

Pakistan remain unbeaten in the first seven overs of their chase before the dinner break, reaching 35/0. 82 runs needed after the break for victory.#PAKvHK LIVE https://t.co/m411ePp9Q8#AsiaCup2018 pic.twitter.com/kgzErGfDgh

— ICC (@ICC) September 16, 2018

20:33 IST: Expensive over from Tanwir Afzal comes to an end. 10 runs from it. Pakistan 35-0 after 7 overs. 

20:31 IST: FOUR! Fakhar Zaman dances down the track and hits Tanwir straight down the ground. The ball hits the bowler's hand but still manages to reach the fence. Pakistan 35-0 after 6.5 overs. 

20:30 IST: SIX! First one for Pakistan in their run-chase. Beautiful timing on that one from Fakhar Zaman. Clears his front leg and hammers the ball over the fence to collect six runs. Pakistan 31-0 after 6.3 overs.

20:17 IST: FOUR! Beautiful timing on that one from Imam-ul-Haq. Aizaz Khan drifts on to the pads and Imam flicks the ball to square leg to collect a boundary.  Pakistan 23-0 after 5.1 overs. 

20:17 IST: FOUR! First boundary for Pakistan in the run chase. Ehsan Nawaz bowls it short and wide and Fakhar Zaman hits the ball through covers to collect his first boundary of the innings. Brilliant placement from the left-hander. Pakistan 16-0 after 3.3 overs. 

20:10 IST: First over from Ehsan Nawaz comes to an end. Seven runs from it. Pakistan 10-0 after 2 overs. 

20:02 IST: Imam-ul-Haq and Pakistan are off the mark. Imam gets the outside edge and the ball runs to the third man firlder. Imam collects a single on the first ball. Pakistan 1-0 after 0.1 overs. 

20:01 IST: Pakistan openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq are at the centre for the run-chase. Tanwir Afzal will bowl the first over for Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong 116 all-out in 37.1 overs. (Aizaz Khan 27, Usman Khan 3-19)

19:51 IST: Run Out and it's all over for Hong Kong. They have been bundled out for 116 runs in 37.1 over. 

19:49 IST: Another tight over from Shadab Khan comes to an end. Just three singles from it. Kong 116-9 after 37 overs.

19:38 IST: Four and 100 comes up for Hong Kong! Nadeem Ahmed his Hasan Ali straight down the ground to collect a boundary. Two bounces and the ball goes over the rope. Kong 103-9 after 33.3 overs.

19:34 IST: OUT! Hasan Ali comes back into the attack and strikes on the first ball. Kinchit Shah hits the wide ball from Ali straight down the throat of the point fielder. Shah's gritty knock of 27 comes to an end. Hong Kong are nine down now. Kong 99-9 after 33.1 overs.

19:31 IST: Ehsan Nawaz denies Usman Khan a hat-trick. Defends the length ball from Usman with ease. Kong 99-8 after 32.1 overs.

19:25 IST: OUT! Tanwir Afzal walks back without troubling the scorers. Third wicket for Usman Khan in the over. Knocks Tanwir's off stump with a straight delivery. Usman will be on a hat-trick in his next over. Kong 97-8 after 31 overs.

19:22 IST: OUT! Usman Khan strikes for the second time in the over. Scott McKechnie walks back for a duck. Hong Kong innings is now falling apart. Kong 97-7 after 30.5 overs. 

19:16 IST: OUT! Aizaz Khan's gritty knock of 27 finally comes to an end. Usman Khan comes in from round the wicket and cleans up Aizaz. The ball after pitching continued to come in and went through the big gap between the pad and the pads of Aizaz Khan. Hong Kong have now lost six wickets. Hong Kong 97-6 after 30.2 overs. 

19:06 IST: Review from KD Shah. Original decision is out. Usman Khan comes in from round the wicket and the ball hits KD Shah on the pads. Replay clearly shows that the ball was going over the stumps. Shah survives. Hong Kong 94-5 after 28.3 overs. 

19:05 IST: 50-run partnership comes up between Aizaz Khan and KD Shah. Both the batsmen have held the Hong Kong innings together after the loss of quick wickets. Hong Kong 94-5 after 28.2 overs. 

18:57 IST: FOUR! Aizaz Khan sweeps Shadab Khan to collect a boundary. Hits it on the full towards the vacant mid-wicket region for four runs. Aizazis now looking confident at the centre. He has now moved on to 22 with the boundary. Hong Kong 86-5 after 26.2 overs. 

18:52 IST: 25 overs are up and Hong Kong have 80 runs on the board for the loss of five wickets. Partnership between Aizaz Khan (17) and KD Shah (19) has now moved on to 36 runs. Mohammed Amir comes back on the attack for Pakistan. 

18:48 IST: SIX! First six of the match comes from the bat of Aizaz Khan. Charges down the ground against Shoaib Malik and deposits the ball over the long-off boundary for a maximum. Shoaib Malik's third over also comes to an end. Hong Kong 78-5 after 24 overs.

18:39 IST: FOUR! Gorgeous straight drive from KD Shah off Shadab Khan. Reaches to the pitch of the ball and hits it straight down the ground. Mid-off fielder had no chance to cut that of. Brilliant timing on that one from Shah. Hong Kong 60-5 after 20.4 overs.

18:34 IST: Bowling change for Pakistan! Shoaib Malik comes in to replace Hasan Ali. 

18:32 IST: Four and 50 up for Hong Kong! Aizaz Khan gets to the pitch of the ball and drives Shadab Khan through the extra cover region to collect four runs. It has been a difficult run of play for the Hong Kong batsmen against quality Pakistan bowling. Hong Kong 52-5 after 18.3 overs.

18:23 IST: OUT! It has been a dream start for Shadab Khan. Second wicket in the first three balls of his spell. This time he traps Ehsan Khan (0) in front of the stumps with the wrong'un. Half of the Hong Kong team is now back in the pavilion. Hong Kong 44-5 after 16.3 overs.

18:22 IST: OUT! Leggie Shadab Khan strikes on the first ball of his spell. Babar Hayat's (7 from 29 balls) struggle comes to an end. Trying to go over the top, Hayat misses a flighted delivery from Shadab. Wicket keeper Sarfraz does the rest behind the stumps. Hong Kong 44-4 after 16.1 overs.

18:12 IST: Drinks break! 15 overs are up and Hong Kong batsmen are struggling at the moment against the Pakistan pace attack. Babar Hayat (6*) and KD Shah (1*) are at the centre for Hong Kong. They have 42 runs on the board for the loss of three wickets. 

18:04 IST: OUT! Christopher Carter departs for 2 runs. Hasan Ali gets his first wicket of the match. Trying to go over the top of the infield, Carter only manages to hit the ball into the hands of Imam-ul-Haq at covers. Hong Kong are in trouble now with three wickets down.  Hong Kong 39-3 after 13.2 overs.

OUT! Christopher Carter c Imam-ul-Haq b Hasan Ali 2(14).
Hong Kong: 39/3 (13.2ov). #PAKvHK #AsiaCup2018 #HarSaansMeinBolo pic.twitter.com/t0sCqkHMmr

— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 16, 2018

18:01 IST: Another tight over from Faheem Ashraf comes to an end. Just one run from it. Both Babar Hayat and Christopher Carter are pretty watchful at the moment after the losing both the openers. Run rate for Hong Kong at the moment is 2.96. Hong Kong 38-2 after 13 overs.

17:55 IST: Another bowling change for Pakistan! Hasan Ali comes to replace Usman Khan. 

17:50 IST: 10 overs are up and Hong Kong have 32 runs on the board for the loss of two wickets. Both their openers are back in the hut after the first power-play. 

17:40 IST: OUT! Faheem Ashraf strikes in his first over. Anshuman Rath's stay at the centre comes to an end. Anshuman (19) was looking to guide the ball  to the third man. Manages only an edge. Sarfraz Ahmed takes a simple catch behind the stumps. Both Hong Kong openers are back in the pavilion now. Hong Kong 32-2 after 8.5 overs.

OUT! Anshuman Rath c Sarfraz b Faheem Ashraf 19(34). Hong Kong: 32/2 (8.5 ov). Live Updates: https://t.co/UU2ALDtcDd ... #PAKvHK #AsiaCup #HarSaansMeinBolo pic.twitter.com/7PF6nXVvmd

— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 16, 2018

17:38 IST: Bowling change for Pakistan! Faheem Ashraf  comes in to replace Mohammed Amir. 

17:37 IST: FOUR! Anshuman cuts and cuts it really hard. What a strike that was from the skipper. Anshuman is looking confident now. The ball was wide outside the off stump from Usman and Anshuman gives everything on it. The ball was in the air but was brilliantly placed. Hong Kong 27-1 after 7.5 overs.

17:26 IST: FOUR! Hong Kong skipper Anshuman Rath gets his first boundary of the match. Wide ball from Usman and Anshuman guides it to the third man region and picks up four runs. Brilliant placement from the left-hander.  Hong Kong 21-1 after 5.3 overs.

17:20 IST: Run Out! Direct hit from Shadab Khan and Nizakat fails to make the ground. What a brilliant one-handed pick up that was from Shadab. He knew it straightaway. Nizakat walks back after scoring 13 runs. Hong Kong 17-1 after 4.3 overs.

17:16 IST: Huge lbw appeal from Usman Khan! Umpire rules not out. The ball was possibly going down the leg side. Sarfraz Ahmed decides not to go for the review.  Hong Kong 14-0 after 3.4 overs.

17:09 IST: Terrific first over from Usman Khan from the other end. Just one run from it. Hong Kong 12-0 after 2 overs.

17:05 IST: Expensive start from Mohammed Amir. 11 runs from his first over. Nizakat is looking confident. Collects two boundaries from the first over. Usman Khan will share the new ball with Amir from the other end. Hong Kong 11-0 after 1 over.

17:01 IST: FOUR! First boundary of the match. Amir this time drifts on to the pads and Nizakat times the ball to perfection. The ball races to the square-leg boundary in no time. Hong Kong 6-0 after 0.2 overs.

17:01 IST: Nizakat Khan and Hong Kong are off the mark with a couple of runs on the off side. That was a wide delivery from Amir and Nizakat pushes the ball into the cover region to pick two runs. Hong Kong 2-0 after 0.1 overs.

16:59 IST: Openers Nizakat Khan and Anshuman Rath are are at the centre to start for Hong Kong. Mohammed Amir will start the proceedings for Pakistan. 

Pakistan and Hong Kong's #AsiaCup campaigns are about to get underway!

Hong Kong won the toss and bat first - follow the action from Dubai with our live blog!#PAKvHK LIVE https://t.co/m411ePp9Q8 pic.twitter.com/GNlfMvGZIP

— ICC (@ICC) September 16, 2018

16:50 IST: Both teams are at the centre along with match officials for the national anthems. 

16:40 IST: Here are the playing XI from both the teams. 

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed(w/c), Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan

Playing XI of Pakistan for their first match of #AsiaCup 2018
Live Updates: https://t.co/wRmNTAIXDN #PAKvHK #HarSaansMeinBolo pic.twitter.com/cEVD04JU1j

— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 16, 2018

Hong Kong: Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath(c), Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Christopher Carter, Ehsan Khan, Aizaz Khan, Scott McKechnie(w), Tanwir Afzal, Ehsan Nawaz, Nadeem Ahmed

16:35 IST: Here's what the two captains had to say at he toss. 

Hong Kong skipper Anshuman Rath - Saw the game yesterday and the pitch seemed to stay true. We're ready, we deserve to be here, especially on the back of losing ODI status in March. We've beaten top teams before, hope we could do it again. After the Qualifiers [ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Harare, Zimbabwe], a lot of our players have confidence.

Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed - We wanted to bat. But we'll try to restrict them and chase the target. Hong Kong has qualified to this event, so congrats to them. We won't take them lightly. It's a long tournament and we're not thinking too far ahead. Going with four pacers today.

16:30 IST: Hong Kong skipper Anshuman Rath has won the toss and opted to bat first against Pakistan.

Pakistan vs Hong Kong, 2nd Match, Group A - @CricketHK win the toss and going to bat first.
For Live Updates: https://t.co/wRmNTAIXDN #PAKvHK #AsiaCup #HarSaansMeinBolo pic.twitter.com/at9IAXhG0o

— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 16, 2018

16:10 IST: This is the first match of Group A which includes India, Pakistan and Hong Kong. In the first encounter of the Asia Cup on Saturday, Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by 137 runs.

16:00 IST: Hello and welcome to the live commentary of 2018 Asia Cup encounter between Pakistan and Hong Kong.

Pakistan will be the favourites going in the match as it is nearly three years that they lost an ODI in the UAE. The last loss for Pakistan in the UAE had come against England in November 2015 and since then they have won all the eight matches played there. While Pakistan has won all their last five matches, Hong Kong has only won two of their last five matches and lost three.

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