Follow us on Google NewsHong Kong weren’t expected to pose much of a threat to a power-packed Pakistan and the second match of the Asia Cup in Dubai eventually turned out to be a one-sided affair as the Men in Green registered their first victory by eight wickets. Once the bowlers skidded Hong Kong out for 116, it was a matter of time before the Pakistani top order accomplished the target without much fuss.
Hong Kong crawl along
After the qualifying team won the toss and elected to bat first, opener Nizakat Khan scorched a couple of boundaries but fell prey to a direct hit from Shadab Khan. Skipper Anshuman Rath put his head down, however, Faheem Ashraf picked him up. Babar Hayat strained for a 29-ball seven and was nipped out by Shadab Khan. Prior to that Hasan Ali also added to the wickets column.
Kinchit Shah and Aizaz Khan staved off the Pakistani attack with expertise and stitched together a stand of 53 runs from 83 balls. Just when it seemed that the duo was taking Hong Kong to respectability, left-arm seamer Usman Khan castled Aizaz and thereafter pinned a couple of more batters, and reduced Rath’s men to 97/8. Hong Kong’s innings came to a close courtesy of Ehsan Nawaz’s run out.
To order does the job for Pakistan
Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq opened the batting and didn’t quite blaze away, but kept ensuring that they chip away at the target. The duo put on 41 runs from 49 balls after which off-spinner Ehsan Khan found Zaman’s bottom edge. Babar Azam, who has incredible records, playing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), joined Imam and pretty much looked at ease.
They milked the bowling for singles and churned out the odd boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking. Ehsan Khan separated them by dismissing Babar for 33 runs. Both of Ehsan’s wickets came in a similar manner, caught by Scott McKechnie behind the wickets. Shoaib Malik came in next and he along with the left-handed Imam, who notched an impressive half-century, took Pakistan over the finishing line.
Here is how Twitter reacted
The game ,Technology and the whole world has moved forward except the playing conditions of #cricket , idea of playing a few overs and then a big break in a one day game #nologic #someonehastointervene #PAKvsHK #AsiaCup18
— subramani badrinath (@s_badrinath) September 16, 2018
#HK all out for 116 Well done Shadab and Shinwari what amazing spells.
Am hoping this will be an easy win!!#HKvPAK #AsiaCup18— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 16, 2018
Imam-ul-Haq gets to his fifty off 69 balls then Shoaib Malik hits a four to bring the match to a conclusion! Pakistan have beaten Hong Kong by 8 wickets with 158 balls to spare #HKvPAK #AsiaCup2018
— Muhammad ADil (@ADilCricinfo) September 16, 2018
Unbeaten most often in successful run-chases for Pakistan in ODIs
32 Inzamam-ul-Haq
23 Mohammad Yousuf
22 Abdul Razzaq
21 SHOAIB MALIK*
20 Javed Miandad
19 Saleem Malik
18 Misbah-ul-Haq & Wasim Akram#PAKvHK #AsiaCup2018— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) September 16, 2018
Congratulations✌✌👌👈
on reaching the milestone of 2000 ODI runs 👏. He is the joint quickest to score 2000 ODI runs for Pakistan alongside legendary Zaheer Abbas! #PAKvHK #AsiaCup2018 pic.twitter.com/j0f0x5w8l0— AwaisAli (@awaia_ali) September 16, 2018
So, Malik wasn't hitting any boundary or six because of Imam's fifty but finished the match with a four after imam completed fifty #PAKvHK #AsiaCup2018
— Yasir Mushtaq (@realyasir18) September 16, 2018
Second Fastest To Score 2000 Runs !!
In 45 Innings !!
Record Shared By Zaheer Abbas And Kevin Pietersen.
Babar Azam #AsiaCup2018 #AsiaCup #AsiaCup18 #PAKvHK pic.twitter.com/AW0CfNYECX
— CricketStories (@stories_cricket) September 16, 2018
shoaib malik wanted Imam to complete his 50 😍 #AsiaCup2018 #PAKvHK
— Muhammad Noman (@Noman2294) September 16, 2018
1st 50 for Imam in ODIs
He has 4 100s in ODIs#AsiaCup2018 🏆 #PAKvHK 🏏
— աαզαs 🇵🇰 (@iCricketFreak) September 16, 2018
Fastest To 2,000 Runs Men's One-Day Internationals (By Innings)
40 Hashim Amla
45 Babar Azam
45 Zaheer Abbas
45 Kevin Pietersen
47 Jonathan Trott #PAKvHK #AsiaCup2018 #AsiaCup— Raghava (@Raghava4mahesh) September 16, 2018
Only @amlahash has reached the milestone of 2,000 ODI runs in fewer innings than @babarazam258! #howzstat #PAKvHK #AsiaCup2018 pic.twitter.com/XOteR5WGHL
— ICC (@ICC) September 16, 2018
I hope Hong Kong report about the incident about the umpire. Didn't cost them today but could have cost them huge.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) September 16, 2018
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