Twitter Reactions: India prevail in the roller-coaster ride over Hong Kong

Anshuman Rath and Nizakat Khan kept India at bay for a significant amount of the run chase.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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Shikhar Dhawan
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Shikhar Dhawan. (Photo credit should read ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)

India’s match against Hong Kong at Dubai International Cricket Stadium turned to be a closely-fought one, but it was Rohit Sharma and Co who held their nerves and brushed aside a spirited Hong Kong, who gave India a run for their money, by 26 runs. Moreover, India also booked their berth in the Super 4 and will next play Sarfraz Ahmed’s Pakistan at the same venue in the event’s marquee clash.

Dhawan shepherds India

Unlike the last time around, Hong Kong skipper Anshuman Rath won the toss and elected to field first. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan began briskly, but off-break bowler removed Rohit for 23 to draw first blood. Ambati Rayudu and Dhawan thereafter blended caution with aggression and cobbled together a partnership of 116 runs to build a solid platform for the Men in Blue.

After Rayudu’s dismissal, Dinesh Karthik and Dhawan carried on India’s dominance and put on 79 more runs. Meanwhile, Dhawan scored 127 runs to anchor the Indian innings. In the 41st over, India’s score was 240, but they lost wickets at regular intervals owing to which they crawled along to 285 runs. Kinchit Shah picked up three wickets in the death overs to restrict the Indians.

Rath and Nizakat scare India

Defending 286, India were expected to close out the match without much fuss, but Nizakat Khan and Anshuman Rath had other ideas. The duo kept Rohit’s men at bat for 34 overs with a stupendous stand of 174 runs. While Rath buckled down to play through the innings, Nizakat trod the attacking route and notched a superlative 92 runs with 12 boundaries and a six.

At the other end, Rath put on 73 runs. Following their stand, Hong Kong stuttered a wee bit. Babar Hayat cleared the ropes to keep his team in contention. The likes of Kinchit Shah and Ehsan Khan tried their hearts out, but the required run rate kept climbing and eventually Hong Kong tantalisingly fell short. Most importantly, the match gave India a wake-up call.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Hong Kong’s spirited show

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