MUSCAT: Hong Kong concluded their campaign in the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup with a resounding victory, securing a thrilling five-wicket victory over Afghanistan A in their concluding match of Group A at the Oman Cricket Academy ground in Al Amerat on Tuesday.
Facing Afghanistan A, who had already secured a spot in the semi-finals, Hong Kong delivered a determined performance. This was particularly evident through the exceptional bowling performances of Anas Khan and Nizakat Khan, who both contributed significantly to the team's success. Khan's remarkable tournament-best figures of 6/12 and Khan's captain's knock of 61 not out were pivotal moments in the match.
Khan's pinpoint accuracy and variation in his bowling disrupted Afghanistan A's innings, reducing them to a total of 131 all out in just 19.5 overs. Sediqullah Atal emerged as the standout performer for Afghanistan A, scoring 52 runs from 41 balls, while skipper Darwish Rasooli contributed 18 runs. Numan Shah and Karim Janat provided some resistance, but Khan's strategic wickets at crucial moments ensured Afghanistan A could not mount a significant comeback.
Khan's performance included key dismissals of Atal, Rasooli, Janat, Shahidullah, and Sharafuddin Ashraf. Nizakat Khan's captain's knock of 61 not out was a highlight of his innings, supported by Babar Hayat's 39 runs from 37 balls, playing a crucial role in a 93-run stand for the third wicket.
Their partnership was instrumental in Hong Kong's chase, maintaining a steady pace without risking too much. In the final over, Afghanistan A attempted a comeback, but with 10 runs needed to win, Martin Coetzee (15* off 5 balls) delivered a spectacular finish, hitting two boundaries and a six to secure the victory for Hong Kong, chasing down the target with three balls to spare.
Briefly, Afghanistan A scored 131 all out in 19.5 overs, with Sediqullah Atal scoring 52 runs, Numan Shah 20 runs, and Karim Janat 21 runs. Anas Khan took 6 wickets for just 12 runs. Hong Kong, on the other hand, scored 133/5 in 19.3 overs, with Nizakat Khan scoring 61 runs and Babar Hayat adding 39 runs. Their partnership was the backbone of Hong Kong's chase, ensuring a successful outcome.
