Pakistan crush Hong Kong in ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup opener

KARACHI: Pakistan went off to a victorious start in ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup on Thursday with a comprehensive 225-run win against Hong Kong in the opening match of the tournament at Karachi’s National Stadium.

19-year-old pacer from Peshawar Mohammad Ilyas claimed his first hat-trick and first fiver of his career to restrict the visitors to 141 runs, after centuries by opening duo of Sahibzada Farhan and Ali Imran helped Pakistan post a mammoth total of 366/3.

Pakistan got the opening stand of 219 runs after they were put into bat first by Hong Kong captain Aizaz Khan who won the toss.

Farhan smashed two sixes and stroked 15 shots to the fence for his 130 off 125 deliveries while Ali Imran scored 107 off 105 with the help of one six and 11 strokes to boundary.

Pakistan innings could have got a third century but Khusdhil Shah fell 17 runs short after smashing four sixes and nine fours for his quick 83 that came from just 40 deliveries.

The score set by Pakistani batsmen gave enough confidence to the bowling line to keep opponents under pressure from the first ball.

Hong Kong looked so down that six of their batsmen couldn’t even open their account as five players got out for duck while the number 10 batsman Mohammad Ghazanfar didn’t get an opportunity to face even a single delivery.

Shahid Wasif was only Hong Kong player who showed some resistance against Pakistani bowling and scored 59 before his team was bundled out for 141 runs in 34 overs.

Mohammad Ilyas, the man of the match, got five wickets conceding 35 runs from 7 overs while Khushdil Shah got two wickets to his credit.

In another match, UAE outclassed Bangladesh by 97 runs at Southend Cricket Club.

UAE, after winning the toss, scored 267 runs, thanks to some responsible batting by the top order. Ashfaq Ahmed top scored with 98 while Ghulam Shabbir scored 52 and Rohan Mustafa added 40 runs to the team’s total.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 170 runs as Ahmed Raza and Imran Haider got four wickets apiece.

UAE will now face Pakistan on Friday with the winner having berth to next stage confirmed. Hong Kong will play Bangladesh at Southend Club in the second match of the day two of the tournament which will be a battle of survival for both the teams.