Tuesday 22 / October / 2024
MUSCAT: Hong Kong concluded their ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup campaign in style, securing a thrilling five-wicket last-over win over Afghanistan A in their final Group A match at the Oman Cricket Academy ground in Al Amerat on Tuesday.
With Afghanistan A already through to the semi-finals, Hong Kong put in a determined performance, led by Anas Khan's extraordinary spell and Nizakat Khan's match-winning knock, to end their campaign on a high note.
Anas Khan’s tournament-best spell of 6/12
Afghanistan A won the toss and opted to bat, but their innings was derailed by Hong Kong's Anas Khan, who delivered the best bowling figures of the tournament so far, taking a remarkable 6 wickets for just 12 runs.
Anas’s pinpoint accuracy and variation rattled Afghanistan A, reducing them to 131 all out in 19.5 overs.
Sediqullah Atal was the lone bright spot for Afghanistan A, top-scoring with 52 off 41 balls, while skipper Darwish Rasooli chipped in with 18. Numan Shah (20) and Karim Janat (21) offered brief resistance, but Anas’ brilliance ensured Afghanistan A could not build any momentum, with his wickets coming at crucial intervals.
His spell included key dismissals of Atal, Rasooli, Janat, Shahidullah and Sharafuddin Ashraf
Nizakat Khan’s captain’s knock
Chasing 132, Hong Kong faced early trouble, losing opener Anshy Rath for a duck and Zeeshan Ali for 12, leaving them at 19/2. However, captain Nizakat Khan stood tall, anchoring the innings with a well-paced 61 off 53 balls. His innings, laced with 2 boundaries and 3 sixes, kept Hong Kong in control of the chase despite Afghanistan A's efforts to fight back.
Nizakat found a reliable partner in Babar Hayat, who added 39 off 37 balls, playing a crucial supporting role in a 93-run stand for the third wicket.
Their partnership was the backbone of Hong Kong’s chase, keeping the scoreboard ticking without taking unnecessary risks.
Late in the innings, Afghanistan A struck back, dismissing both Nizakat and Hayat in a space of two balls by Abdul Rahman. With 10 runs still needed in the final over, Martin Coetzee (15* off 5 balls) smashed two boundaries and a six to finish the game in style, ensuring Hong Kong chased down the target with three balls to spare.
Brief scores: Afghanistan A: 131 all out in 19.5 overs (Sediqullah Atal 52, Numan Shah 20, Karim Janat 21; Anas Khan 6/12) lost to Hong Kong: 133/5 in 19.3 overs (Nizakat Khan 61, Babar Hayat 39; Abdul Rahman 3/17, Qais Ahmad 2/18).
