Asia Cup : India Beat Honkong By 26 Runs
Anshuman and Nizakat created an record of 174 runs opening pair partnership for Hongkong
Mumbai, (Dubai) : No doubt Hongkong was showing some of the best skills of there batting line up, Anshuman Rath and Nizakat Khan created an record of 174 runs opening pair partnership. The partnership gave some of the hopes for the Honkong but the Men in Blue fought back and clinch the match by 26 runs in their Group A match at Dubai yesterday.
After winning the toss Hongkong decided to field first. Indian opening pair skipper Rohit Sharma 23, and Shikhar Dhawan 127 gave good start for the team. Dhawan is back in form scored 127 runs, played with an aggressive attitude. Meanwhile spinner Eshan Khan provided the first break through for Honkong accounting Sharma’s wicket. Later on inform batsman Ambati Raydu played an wonderfull innings of 60 runs. Both Dhawan and Raydu started milking runs through boundaries.
The two batsmen shared a huge 116-run partnership before Ehsan Nawaz (one for 50) separated the duo. Dhawan continued to play attacking cricket and registered his 14th ODI century. Whereas Dinesh Karthik also provided good contribution 33, at one point, it seemed that India would cross the 300-run mark.
Meanwhile off spinner Kinchit Shah provided another wicket of inform batsman Dhawan which scattered India’s innings. Whereas former skipper MS Dhoni failed to show his batting skills where he backed of pavilion without scoring, only managing to feather an edge to wicketkeeper Scott McKechnie off Ehsan Nawaz. Now the lower order batsman also failed to score the runs, with the help Kedar Jadhav India reach 285 runs.
In second innings chasing the huge target of 286 runs Honkong was in pressure as they were playing against world best side, but the openers Rath and Nizakat played a incredible innings coupled with India‘s misfielding chaos.
With the help of Rath (73) and Nizakat (92) Honkong was all set to create a history, whereas Indian bowlers were struggling to pick up wickets.
Honkong reached the mark of 150 runs without lossing any wicket, the pressure was back on Men In Blue, however it was Kuldeep Yadav provided first break through at the 34th over, accounting for Rath, who holed out at extra cover. In the next over, Nizakat was sent back to the pavilion by debutant Khaleel Ahmed, who trapped him in front to end the former’s innings with a patient but well-made 92 runs.
Later on Honkong’s middle order failed to score runs, led by Khaleel and Chahal, continued to get breakthroughs at regular intervals. From 174 for 0, Hong Kong lost their way and huffed and puffed past the 250-run mark, eventually finishing at 259 for 8 in 50 overs.
India will now lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan at the same venue on Wednesday, the most-awaited encounter which is expected to be a cracker of a match in this year’s Asia Cup.
