Bangladesh started their campaign on the right note by winning the toss and deciding to bowl first at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The pitch was challenging and Hong Kong had to dig deep as Bangladesh bowled well throughout and had a good powerplay and death overs phase. The middle overs went Hong Kong’s way and as a result, they gave a good account of themselves by getting past 140, a vast improvement from the previous game.
Nizakat Khan top scored for Hong Kong with 42 off 40 balls while Zeeshan Ali made 30 off 34 balls and Yasim Murtaza made 28 off 19 balls to take the score to 143/7 in 20 overs. For Bangladesh, Tanzim Hasan Sakib was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/21 in 4 overs. He was ably supported by Taskin Ahmed who finished with 2/38 in 4 overs while Rishad Hossain finished with 2/31 in 4 overs. Mahedi Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman kept things tight despite going wicketless as Hong Kong ended with 143/7 in 20 overs setting Bangladesh 144 to win the contest.
Disciplined bowling from Bangladesh keeps Hong Kong to 34/2 after the powerplay
Put into bat first, Zeeshan Ali and Anshuman Rath came out to open the batting for Hong Kong while Mahedi Hasan had ball in hand for Bangladesh. Mahedi started with a quiet over even as Zeeshan survived a close LBW appeal thanks to the Impact being Umpire’s call. Taskin Ahmed came onto bowl from the other end and started with a no ball. The free hit was crunched through covers by Anshuman for a boundary. But Taskin had his man as he dismissed Anshuman for 4 off 5 balls thanks to great usage of DRS.
Taskin bowled a fuller delivery around off-stump straightened a bit after pitching, Rath went for a drive down the ground but got a faint edge to the keeper where Litton dived forward and took it cleanly. The umpire was unmoved and then the DRS was taken and the decision was overturned in favour of Bangladesh. Babar Hayat came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway. Taskin gifted 5 wides away to the batting team.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib came onto bowl next and bowled a tidy over even as Zeeshan survived a run out scare as the direct hit missed the stumps. Taskin bowled a decent over even as Zeeshan did not slide his bat beyond the crease at the bowler’s end and a short run was signalled by the umpire. Hayat then took on Sakib and smashed him over mid-on for the maximum. But the bowler hit back next ball and got rid of Hayat for 14 off 12 balls with a maximum to his name.
Sakib bowled it full on the stumps and got it to shape away. Hayat came down the track and looked to push it straight but got squared up. He was in no position to play that one and got beaten all ends up. The ball hit the off-stump. Nizakat Khan came out to bat next and got off the mark. Mustafizur Rahman came onto the attack to bowl the final over of powerplay and bowled a decent over as Hong Kong at the end of powerplay were 34/2 in 6 overs.
Nizakat Khan, Zeeshan Ali & Yasim Murtaza steady the ship and take Hong Kong past 100 inside 15 overs
Rishad Hossain came into the attack post the powerplay and bowled a decent first over. Mahedi Hasan came back into the attack and kept it relatively tight. Zeeshan finally broke the shackles as he hit Rishad by stepping out of the crease and lofted it over extra covers for the maximum. The 50 came up for Hong Kong in 8.2 overs. Zeeshan then hit Rishad for a boundary between deep square leg and deep midwicket.
Mustafizur Rahman returned to bowl the 10th over of the innings as Zeeshan hit him away past fine leg for a boundary. After 10 overs at the halfway stage of the innings, Hong Kong were 64/2 as the players took the Drinks Break. Mahedi returned for another over and was welcomed back by Zeeshan for a boundary through deep midwicket. Sakib returned and got rid of Zeeshan Ali for 30 off 34 balls with 3 fours and a maximum to his name.
Tanzim banged it short once more time on the middle stump line with the ball nipping back in as well. Zeeshan made some room moving in the leg side but got cramped. He mistimed the pull and got the top edge towards mid-on region. Mustafizur called for it at midwicket and ran around 20 yards from edge of the circle at mid-on to dive and catch the wobbling ball. Captain Yasim Murtaza came out to bat next.
Murtaza smashed Rishad down the ground through long-on for a boundary. Rishad then dropped a tough chance of his own bowling as Murtaza got a lifeline. Emon hurt himself at covers to his right wrist and walked off the field. Murtaza then hit Sakib for the maximum by playing the swivel pull over the square leg region for the maximum. Tanzim finished his spell and had a good night out there.
Mahedi Hasan returned to the attack as Murtaza slammed him straight down the ground to clear long-on for the maximum as the 100 came up for Hong Kong in 14.5 overs. After 15 overs, Hong Kong were now well-placed at 101/3 with Nizakat Khan on 21* off 27 balls while captain Yasim Murtaza was with him on 21* off 13 balls.
Late Wickets Help Bangladesh Restrict Hong Kong to 143/7 in 20 overs
Mustafizur Rahman bowled a decent 16th over. Taskin Ahmed returned as Nizakat stepped outside the crease and made room to slice it away through vacant slip region for a boundary. Murtaza hit another boundary between deep midwicket and long-on off Mustafizur off the same over. Murtaza was unfortunately run out through a mix-up in the middle for 28 off 19 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes to his name. Aizaz Khan came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway. Nizakat hit a boundary off the Fizz over short third man for a boundary.
Nizakat smashed Rishad over long-off for the maximum over the bowler’s head. Rishad ultimately got his man getting rid of Nizakat for 42 off 40 balls with 2 fours and a maximum to his name. He bowled a flighted length delivery on the off-stump line, Nizakat stepped down the track but failed to get to the pitch of the ball. He mistimed off the bottom of the bat high in the air and found the running Tanzim at long-on taking a good catch as he ran to his left and took it. Kinchit Shah came out to bat next.
Rishad dismissed Kinchit first ball for a golden duck. He bowled a good length leg break pitched on the off-stump and turning back in, Shah was down on one knee and looked to sweep but missed to get trapped in front of the middle stump. He reviewed in hope and saw three reds on ball tracking. The decision stood right and the review was lost. Kalhan Challu came out to bat next.
Taskin came to bowl the final over and got rid of Aizaz Khan for 5 off 6 balls. He bowled a slower delivery on length and middle stump line. Aizaz failed to get underneath it and swung across the line and got a top edge and the ball went up in the air. Jaker Ali ran a few paces from deep square leg and took a well-balanced catch. Ehsan Khan came out to bat next and got off the mark as Taskin overstepped. Free Hit yielded only a single from Challu.
In the end, Hong Kong ended with a decent 143/7 in 20 overs with Ehsan Khan unbeaten on 2* off 2 balls and KM Challu on 4* off 3 balls. 14 extras conceded by Bangladesh bowlers. The Bangladeshi bowlers bowled decently with Tanzim Hasan Sakib finishing with 2/21 in 4 overs. Taskin Ahmed finished with 2/38 in 4 overs while Rishad Hossain finished with 2/31 in 4 overs. There was a run out in the innings. Mahedi Hasan finished with 28 runs off 4 overs. Mustafizur Rahman finished with 0/22 in 4 overs. That means Bangladesh now needs 144 runs to win their opening game in Asia Cup 2025.
What Lies Ahead
The match is nicely poised at this stage with Hong Kong finishing with 143/7 in 20 overs. The target of 144 is gettable but could be tricky on this pitch and conditions. Bangladesh have to bat well and get the job done but they have the pedigree and batting to chase it down. So, Bangladesh still favourites, but Hong Kong will be in the contest if they get early wickets.
Let’s wait and watch how the run chase unfolds from this position.
Also Read:Â Asia Cup 2025: Bangladesh Aims To Get Off To Winning Start Against Bruised Hong Kong