Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, China Match Highlights & Results

Right then, a pretty one-sided curtain raiser to the 17th edition of the Asia Cup. Afghanistan have claimed a huge win over Hong Kong, China and have started off their campaign on a stronger note. Next up, we move to the lavish city of Dubai as it prepares to host an exciting Group A clash between India and the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. That game will be played on Wednesday, 10th September, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT). But you know the drill, as our buildup and analysis begin well in advance. Till then, take care, cheers!

The victorious captain of Afghanistan, Rashid Khan, signs a ball for a fan and walks up for a chat. He reflects that it was a great win. Feels nice to put on a good total on the board. Highlights that in the last series, they lost early wickets with the bat and that is something they need to look into in the upcoming games against big teams. Overall, he feels that it was a great performance. Appreciates Omarzai for his all-round performance. On the dilemma to pick from a buffet of spinners, Rashid says it is a good headache to have as that puts an extra bit of pressure on the opposition teams. Says in T20s, they need to be prepared to chase and stresses about the mentality to chase down targets. Mentions that it was a tough decision to keep someone like Mujeeb out of the eleven. But ends by expressing his delight at the plans getting executed.

The captain of Hong Kong, China, Yasim Murtaza, says that playing in the Asia Cup is a dream come true for them as it is one of the biggest tournaments in the world. Adds that they bowled well, and he thought they could restrict the Afghans to 150, but praises Azmat for his fine fifty in 20-odd balls. Says that they had a couple of positives with Hayat getting some runs and the spinners also bowling well, so they will look to build on that.

Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai is adjudged as the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant all-round performance. He says it is tough to bat in the lower order, but the coach and the captain have a strong belief in him. Mentions that he kept backing himself and tried to hit straight as the ball was coming nicely onto the bat. Shares that he spoke to Sediqullah Atal to go big after the 16th over. He cites that he tried to keep things simple out in the middle and waited for slot deliveries and converted them into boundary balls. He sees himself as a proper all-rounder who can perform well in both departments.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, Afghanistan opted to bat first but got off to a very scratchy start, losing Gurbaz and Ibrahim inside the first six. The ball held onto the surface and kept the batters tied up. As a result, Afghanistan could only score 77 in the first ten overs. However, a calm 51-run stand between Sediqullah Atal and Mohammad Nabi steadied things for them. Atal stayed till the end, and scored an impressive fifty, while late fireworks from Azmatullah Omarzai provided the perfect propulsion for Afghanistan as they scored 111 runs in the last ten overs. Hong Kong, China's spinners operated really well and used the conditions nicely, but the fielders didn't support them. Eventually, dropping Sediqullah Atal twice in the field came back to haunt them badly.

Afghanistan weren’t flawless in the field, with several lapses, including a couple of dropped catches. It’s an area they will want to tighten up, especially with bigger games ahead and a challenging group to navigate through. For Hong Kong, China, more than the results, it is about gaining as much experience as they can, playing against bigger oppositions and build a strong unit for the future. They would too, like to improve in their fielding department, including the death over bowling as well.

Babar Hayat stood firm at one end as partners kept departing from the other. With spin introduced in tandem, the challenge only grew tougher, runs dried up, and Hong Kong, China slipped deeper into trouble as the chase ground to a halt. Eventually, the final nail in the coffin was hit when Babar Hayat was fished out by Naib. From there, it was just a formality and a matter of time for Afghanistan to wrap up things swiftly, albeit the game went till the final over. Only two batters - Babar Hayat and skipper Yasim Murtaza could cross double digits, but it proved too little for them in the end.

Hong Kong, China got off to a nightmarish start as they lost 4 wickets inside the Powerplay. Nightmarish, because of the fashion in which the wickets fell. A couple were entirely avoidable, but scoreboard pressure combined with a touch of inexperience at this level forced those errors. Azmatullah Omarzai couldn't do anything wrong this evening, as he tore through the top order, picking up a wicket, effecting a run out, and leaving Hong Kong, China reeling at 23 for 4 after the first six overs.

On the expected lines, Afghanistan have walked over Hong Kong, China and have handed them a huge defeat. This win will surely do a lot of good to Afghanistan's net run rate as they move forward in the tournament. Got to feel for Hong Kong, China, though. They just couldn't put on a decent performance and crumbled under extreme pressure. Though they made the Afghan batters huff and puff for runs in the first ten overs with the ball, the point of difference was massively the experience of playing at bigger stages. And Afghanistan grabbed that opportunity handsomely.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ayush Shukla, No run.Nope, they can't! Fazalhaq Farooqi lands this short of a length and outside off, Ayush Shukla slashes at it but misses it completely. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 94 RUNS!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ateeq Iqbal, 1 run.Change of pace again, on a length and on middle, Ateeq Iqbal makes room and guides it to third man for one. Can Hong Kong, China, at least get to a 100 here?

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ateeq Iqbal, No run.Bangs in a short ball, outside off, Ateeq Iqbal has a wild swing at it but misses.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ateeq Iqbal, No run.Back of a length and around off,  Ateeq Iqbal backs away and steers it to point.

Ateeq Iqbal is the last man in for Hong Kong, China.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ehsan Khan, OUT! c & b Fazalhaq Farooqi.OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Hong Kong, China are on the verge of getting bowled out here. Fazal gives no pace again, on a length and on middle, sticks to the surface. Ehsan Khan uses his feet to play at it with hard hands but ends up just chipping it back towards the bowler. Farooqi on his follow-through, gets down quickly and takes a good catch with the ball dying in front of him. Hong Kong, China are 93/9 now!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ehsan Khan, No run.Slower one, on a length and on off, Ehsan Khan keeps it out down the pitch.

Fazalhaq Farooqi (2-0-15-1) to wrap up.

Gulbadin Naib to Ehsan Khan, 1 run.A full toss, on middle, Ehsan Khan steps across and clips it off the inner half of the bat onto the pads as the ball rolls towards square leg. They cross. There is also an appeal for LBW, but nothing doing.

Gulbadin Naib to Ayush Shukla, 1 run.Pitched up and on off, swings in a bit, Ayush Shukla forces it to long on for one.

Ayush Shukla is in at 10.

Gulbadin Naib to Yasim Murtaza, OUT! lbw b Gulbadin Naib.OUT! LBW! Gulbadin Naib has two now! He cleverly takes all the pace off and bowls a leg-cutter, full and on middle, spins in a bit too. Yasim Murtaza crouches low to swipe across the line but gets beaten by the lack of pace and goes decades early through the shot. The ball thumps him on the back thigh right in front of the stumps. There is a big appeal, and the finger goes up. However, Murtaza takes a review here, but UltraEdge confirms no bat involved, and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. Hong Kong, China lose their skipper, a review, and are eight down now.

Gulbadin Naib to Yasim Murtaza, Wide!WIDE! Fuller but down the leg side, Yasim Murtaza fails to lay a bat on that. Called a wide.

Gulbadin Naib to Yasim Murtaza, No run.Swing and a miss! Hits the length hard, on middle, skids through. Yasim Murtaza uses his feet to heave it over mid-wicket but misses as the ball just goes over the stumps.

Gulbadin Naib to Ehsan Khan, 1 run.Back of a length and on off, Ehsan Khan moves across, rides the bounce and dabs it towards covers for a single.

Gulbadin Naib to Ehsan Khan, No run.Fuller and on middle, angling in sharply, Ehsan Khan pats it to the right of the bowler.

Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, No run.Noor Ahmad ends with incredible figures of 4-0-16-1! Floated, full and on off, turns in sharply, Yasim Murtaza prods forward to defend but misses and gets hit high on the pads.

Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, Four!FOUR! That's a fine shot! Tossed up, full and around off, Yasim Murtaza uses his feet to go inside out and slaps it over extra cover for a boundary.

Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, Wide!WIDE! Darts one full but down the leg side, Yasim Murtaza misses his sweep. Wided.

Noor Ahmad to Ehsan Khan, 1 run.Wrong' un, full and on off, turns away, Ehsan Khan guides it to point for a run.

Noor Ahmad to Ehsan Khan, No run.Flighted, full and on leg, Ehsan Khan swipes it straight to short fine.

Noor Ahmad to Ehsan Khan, No run.Flatter, shortish and on middle and off, Ehsan Khan goes down across to sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads as the ball lobs up onto his helmet. A big shout for LBW, but turned down.

Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.Fires in a yorker, on middle, Yasim Murtaza bunts it out towards long on for a single.

Rashid Khan to Ehsan Khan, No run.Googly, short and on off, turns in, Ehsan Khan tries to cut but gets an outside edge on a couple of bounces to short third. Rashid Khan finishes his spell with fine figures of 4-0-24-1.

Rashid Khan to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.Quicker, short and on leg, Yasim Murtaza swipes it off the inside half of the bat towards deep square leg for one.

Rashid Khan to Ehsan Khan, 1 run.Flighted, full and on off, Ehsan Khan pushes it towards covers for a single.

Rashid Khan to Ehsan Khan, 2 runs.Flatter, full and on middle, Ehsan Khan goes down and paddles it towards fine leg for a brace.

Ehsan Khan is in at 9.

Rashid Khan to Aizaz Khan, OUT! c Mohammad Nabi b Rashid Khan.OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust! Rashid Khan gets his first wicket in his last over. He tosses it up, full and on middle, turns away a bit. Aizaz Khan looks to slog it across the line, but the ball just holds on the surface and takes the top edge. It goes miles in the air towards long on. Mohammad Nabi runs forward a bit too much at first, but then adjusts well and takes a good catch with a reverse cap above his head. Keeps his balance nicely too. Afghanistan are just 3 wickets away from winning now!

Rashid Khan to Aizaz Khan, No run.Floated, short and on off, Aizaz Khan stays back and pushes it to short covers.

Noor Ahmad to Aizaz Khan, 1 run.Tossed up, full and on middle, Aizaz Khan goes down and swipes it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.Flighted, full and outside off, Yasim Murtaza goes after it but ends up slicing it in the air. 'Catch it' is the call, but it drops well wide of deep point. They cross.

Noor Ahmad to Aizaz Khan, 1 run.A googly, shortish and on off, Aizaz Khan stabs it out to deep point for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, Leg bye.Floated, full and around leg, Yasim Murtaza is out of his crease again but misses his flick as the ball goes off his pads towards square leg. A leg bye taken.

Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, No run.Slows it up, full and on middle and off, Yasim Murtaza comes down the track to block it out.

Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, No run.DROPPED! That goes really fast but still should have been taken! Floated, full and on off, Yasim Murtaza uses his feet and carves it hard and aerially towards short covers. It is hit straight and flat to Rashid Khan, who fails to react quickly. gets both his hands on it near his chest but spills it out.

Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, Wide!WIDE! Oh..wow! What was that? Noor Ahmad tries to bowl quicker and flatter but the ball gets stuck in his hand. He serves this way, way outside leg. Yasim Murtaza leaves it alone, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz does well to dive to his right to stop it well. Wided.

Rashid Khan to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.Wrong'un, full and on leg, Yasim Murtaza uses his feet and works it towards long on for one more.

Rashid Khan to Aizaz Khan, 1 run.Goes short and on middle, Aizaz Khan heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Rashid Khan to Aizaz Khan, No run.Another loud appeal for LBW, but turned down again! This is a googly, full and on middle, turns in a bit. Aizaz Khan looks to flick it away but misses and gets hit on the pads. Probably turning a bit too much here.

Rashid Khan to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.Pushed through, on the stumps, spinning away. Yasim Murtaza pushes hard at it, but inside edges it past the stumps towards backward square leg. A single taken.

Rashid Khan to Aizaz Khan, 1 run.On the shorter side again and outside off, Aizaz Khan punches it down to long off for a single.

Rashid Khan to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.Drops it short and just outside off, Yasim Murtaza cuts it hard towards deep point for a single.

Rashid Khan (2-0-15-0) is back on. He replaces Gulbadin Naib.

Karim Janat to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.Hard length and on middle, angling in, Yasim Murtaza works it through square leg for one more. Much better from Janat, concedes just 5 runs in this over!

Karim Janat to Aizaz Khan, 1 run.Bangs in a bouncer, outside off, Aizaz Khan drags his pull off the bottom end towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Karim Janat to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.Short of a length and around off, Yasim Murtaza pulls it on the bounce to deep square leg for another run.

Karim Janat to Aizaz Khan, 1 run.Bashes the hard length, around middle and off, Aizaz Khan swipes it towards square leg and scampers to the other end.

Karim Janat to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.Hurls it on a shorter length around off, Yasim Murtaza punches it off the back foot across on the leg side for a single.

Karim Janat to Yasim Murtaza, No run.A huge shout for LBW, but turned down by the umpire and Rashid Khan has decided to send it upstairs! Karim Janat bowls it from round the wicket and keeps it on a length over off. Yasim Murtaza gets squared up a bit to flick that across off the back foot but gets pinged on the back leg. There is nothing on the UltraEdge, but the Ball Tracking shows impact outside off, so the NOT OUT call stays. Afghanistan have burnt both their reviews now.

Gulbadin Naib to Aizaz Khan, No run.Pitched up, on middle, swings in late, Aizaz Khan looks to drive but gets a bottom edge towards mid on.

Aizaz Khan is in at 8.

Gulbadin Naib to Babar Hayat, OUT! c Sediqullah Atal b Gulbadin Naib.OUT! TAKEN IN THE DEEP! Gulbadin Naib gets among the wickets now! He bangs this into the pitch, on off. Babar Hayat stays back and looks to pull it away but the ball gets a bit big on him. It takes the top edge and flies towards deep mid-wicket. Sediqullah Atal runs forward and to his right, sits on his knee and takes a fine catch with the ball dying on him a bit. Hayat departs for a gritty 39 off 43, and Hong Kong, China are 63/6, still needing 126 runs in 43 balls.

Gulbadin Naib to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.On a length and on midde, Yasim Murtaza nudges it thorugh square leg for another run.

Gulbadin Naib to Yasim Murtaza, No run.Goes wide off the crease, and bowls it on a good length outside off, gets the ball to shape away a bit. Yasim Murtaza shapes to drive that on the off side, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Gulbadin Naib to Babar Hayat, 1 run.Delivers a slower delivery, full around the stumps, Babar Hayat looks to heave it across but ends up chipping it over the bowler for a single.

Gulbadin Naib to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.On top of off, on a length, Yasim Murtaza clips it through square leg for a run.

Karim Janat to Babar Hayat, 2 runs.Much fuller and on off, Babar Hayat drills it out to sweeper covers for a brace. 16 runs off the over!

Karim Janat to Babar Hayat, Six!SIX! Stand and deliver! Karim Janat bangs this into the pitch, around off, takes pace off too. Babar Hayat stands tall, extends his arms, and swats it over the long on fence for a biggie. Hong Kong, China need a lot more of these.

Karim Janat to Yasim Murtaza, 1 run.Great effort from the keeper! Back of a length and on off, Yasim Murtaza looks to push it away but gets an inside edge to the left of the keeper and sets off for the run. Rahmanullah Gurbaz removes his right glove, runs to his left, picks up and fires in a good throw at the stumps on the batter's end. However, Hayat has put in an excellent dive and is well inside, as confirmed by the replay as well.

Karim Janat to Babar Hayat, 1 run.Bashes the hard length outside off, gets the pace off from the delivery. Babar Hayat slaps it down to long off and takes a run.

Karim Janat to Babar Hayat, Six!SIX! Sweetly struck! Karim Janat bangs it on the shorter length and around middle and off. The ball sets up nicely, as Babar Hayat clears his front leg and thumps it over wide long on for a cracking six.

Karim Janat to Babar Hayat, No run.Bowls it shorter at the batter, gets it to skid through the surface. Babar Hayat looks to pull that across, but gets cramped up and ends up pushing it back to the bowler.

Pace from both ends now. Karim Janat replaces Noor Ahmad.

Gulbadin Naib to Yasim Murtaza, No run.Touch fuller and on middle, Yasim Murtaza pushes it off the outer half of the bat to covers. Just one run off the over!

Gulbadin Naib to Yasim Murtaza, No run.Swing and a miss! Gulbadin Naib sees the batter advance and serves this full, well outside off, Yasim Murtaza is nowhere near it but still swings wildy across the line, only to connect with thin air.

Gulbadin Naib to Yasim Murtaza, No run.Hard length and around off, Yasim Murtaza stays in his crease, hangs his bat away and stabs it back to the bowler.

Gulbadin Naib to Yasim Murtaza, No run.Bowls it on a length and outside off. Yasim Murtaza sets to cut it through but the ball catches the bottom edge and gets behind to the keeper.

Gulbadin Naib to Babar Hayat, 1 run.Dishes out a slower, low full toss delivery over off, Babar Hayat strokes it down to long off for a single.

Gulbadin Naib to Babar Hayat, No run.Full and swinging in, around the pads. Babar Hayat looks to flick that across, but misses. Interestingly, no wide given by the umpire.

At the same stage, Afghanistan were 77/2. Gulbadin Naib is introduced into the attack. He replaces Rashid Khan.

Noor Ahmad to Yasim Murtaza, No run.A googly, on a fullish length, spinning back in from off. Yasim Murtaza leans forward and taps it with soft hands to mid on. Halfway into the chase, Hong Kong, China are 43/5.

DRINKS! Hong Kong, China, have lost half their side now and are reeling at 43/5 in the 10th over. A win from here looks like a distant dream, but even if they want to get closer to the total, Babar Hayat is their biggest hope. They need to build a partnership and at least try to reduce the margin of defeat as much as possible. Afghanistan are just proving to be too good with the ball, and with the quality of spin that they have, they will be hoping to wrap things up as quickly as possible to help their NRR as well, which could come into play later in the tournament. Also, skipper, Yasim Murtaza comes out to the middle now.

Noor Ahmad to Kinchit Shah, OUT! c Karim Janat b Noor Ahmad.OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! CAUGHT! Karim Janat redeems himself with a screamer of a catch! Quicker leg break on middle, and the length is a bit fullish. In fact, this is a googly, and he pulls the length by a yard or so, forcing the batter to reach for it. Kinchit Shah takes a huge stride forward and tries to sweep it. Goes through the shot, playing it aerially, to the right of deep fine leg. Gets neither the elevation nor the required distance. Karim Janat from deep fine leg runs across to his right, flings himself towards the ball and plucks a fantastic diving catch. Slides on the ground but sustains the ball in his hands. Kinchit Shah departs on 6 (10) and Hong Kong, China are 43/5 down now, needong 146 runs off 61 balls.

Noor Ahmad to Kinchit Shah, 2 runs.Flights it wide outside off, full in length. Kinchit Shah lofts it inside out over cover. Sediqullah Atal from long off runs across to his right and cuts it off with a slide. Two taken.

Noor Ahmad to Babar Hayat, 1 run.Babar steps out again, but Noor does well to drop it on a length and relatively quicker, at the stumps. The ball catches the outside edge and rolls on the off side, as Hayat looks to turn it away on the leg side. A single is taken.

Noor Ahmad to Babar Hayat, No run.Bowls it quicker this time around, on a length over off, Babar knocks it down the deck.

Noor Ahmad to Babar Hayat, No run.Bowls it quicker and pushes it across the batter, on off, a tad shorter, Babar steps out to block it out.

Rashid Khan to Babar Hayat, 1 run.Drag-downer, on middle. Babar Hayat stabs it down to long on for a single. 10 runs off Rashid's second over. His figures read 2-0-15-0. Hong Kong, China need 149 runs from 66 balls!

Rashid Khan to Kinchit Shah, 1 run.Fuller delivery, spinning in from middle. Kinchit Shah mistimes the sweep shot to the vacant square leg region for a single.

Rashid Khan to Babar Hayat, 1 run.Spotting Babar advancing down the track, Rashid darts it on the leg stump line. Babar Hayat heaves it across to deep square leg for a single.

Rashid Khan to Babar Hayat, No run.Drags his length back, after seeing the batter step down the track. Babar pushes it back towards the bowler in the end.

Rashid Khan to Babar Hayat, Six!SIX! MASSIVE! Khan drops it on a yard behind full and just around off, Kinchit Shah puts on his dancing shoes to reach towards the pitch of the delivery and smashes it high over the long on fence for a biggie.

Rashid Khan to Kinchit Shah, 1 run.Quicker and flatter at the stumps, Kinchit Shah presses back to pull it across on the leg side for a run.

Noor Ahmad to Babar Hayat, No run.Slides it on the middle stump, fullish in length. Babar Hayat lunges forward and eases it back to the bowler. Excellent start for Noor Ahmad. Just 2 off his first over. 7 from the last two overs for Hong Kong, China as they need 159 off 72!

Noor Ahmad to Babar Hayat, No run.Pitched outside leg, and very full. Babar Hayat misses to sweep and is struck on the front pad.

Noor Ahmad to Kinchit Shah, 1 run.Quick and flat, just outside off. Kinchit Shah waits back and cuts it to deep point for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Babar Hayat, 1 run.Bowls it closer at the batter, on the fuller side, Babar Hayat prods forward to stroke it down to long off for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Babar Hayat, No run.On the shorter side and wide outside off, Babar Hayat reaches out for it and finds backward point.

Noor Ahmad to Babar Hayat, No run.Lands it fuller and outside off, Babar Hayat lunges forward to drive it straight to short covers.