Match Center

Right then, that is all we have from this game. Pakistan with this win have joined India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka for the Super Four stage of Asia Cup 2022. The first game of Super Four will be played between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka on Saturday, September 4 at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). However, as you know, our build-up will begin in advance. So do join us for the same. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

Mohammad Rizwan is PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his superb knock of 78 from 57 balls. He says that it is important to access the situation and forget what kind of format they are playing. Adds that the plan was to preserve the wickets and accelerate towards the end since the conditions were slow. Claims that he believes in himself, putting in the hard work and then letting things happen the way they are. Admits that if they are the top three players of the team then the pressure does come but they need to do what is right for the team. Mentions the floods in Pakistan and requests people in the country and outside to send any sort of help they can.

Babar Azam, the skipper of Pakistan says that it was a nice victory for them. Adds that early on while batting it was difficult to play shots. He praises Rizwan and Khushdil Shah for their brilliant batting performance. Mentions that their template won't change and they will continue to take their time at the start and go hard at the end. He also praises his fast bowlers and mentions Shahnawaz Dahani as he is quite new to international cricket but he is performing well.

Nizakat Khan, the skipper of Hong Kong says that there is a lot to learn from the two games they played in the competition. Credits Pakistan for being outstanding and says they need to look at videos to learn things about their batting. Claims that they learnt a lot from the two teams on how professional they were and mentions that they would like learn from them and do the same.

Time for the Presentation...

Mohammad Nawaz is down for a quick chat. He says that the plan was to bowl according to the wicket. He says the main thing was to bowl on a good length as the wicket was on the lower side. Adds that when fast bowlers give a good start then the spinners try to go for the dot balls and put the pressure on the batters. Ends by saying he is happy with his team's performance.

Hong Kong, on the other hand, played well in the patches in the last game as well as in this one. However, they need to work on their death bowling if they want to challenge big teams regularly. Ehsan Khan was the pick of the bowlers for them and took two wickets and bowled well in the death too but others struggled big time in the last few overs. With the bat, well they need to improve and learn to get through tough periods when the opposition team is bowling well. No batter showed any application in the middle in this game which is evident by the fact that no one got to even a double digit score here. This will be a big learning curve for Hong Kong but they would hopefully only get better from hereon.

Pakistan have a template in T20Is that is a bit different that other teams in international cricket right now. They like to keep wickets in hand and their top 3 batters try to bat without taking much risks in the first 10 overs and then they try to explode from there. They did exactly that in this game as Rizwan along with Fakhar Zaman steadied the ship after losing an early wicket. They then smashed Hong Kong bowlers all over the park in the last five overs. They posted over 190 and then their dangerous bowling attack was too good for Hong Kong batters. Naseem Shah again was brilliant with the new ball and got two early wickets. Babar Azam then kept changing his bowlers and when spinners came into the attack, Hong Kong had no answers for it. Shadab Khan finished with four wickets and Mohammad Nawaz also enjoyed himself and took 3 wickets in the end. Overall, a complete performance and they would look to continue the same in the Super Four now.

Pakistan have delivered a dominating performance and have sealed their spot in the SUPER FOUR OF THE ASIA CUP 2022! They win with a whopping margin of 155 runs. To be fair, this was always going to be a tough task for Hong Kong batters with over 190 to chase but really no one expected them to crumble so quickly.

OUT! LBW! The game has come to an end and Hong Kong have been bowled out for their lowest score ever! Shadab Khan flights this one a touch shorter and in line with the off stump. Mohammad Ghazanfar rocks back to cut this but the ball clips the pads before hitting his bat. There is a huge appeal and the umpire raises his finger. Mohammad Ghazanfar goes for the review and UltraEdge confirms that it is pad first. Ball Tracking has two umpire's call but it means that the onfield decision remains. Shadab Khan gets his fourth and Hong Kong have been bundled out for 38 runs.

Another googly served full and outside off, Mohammad Ghazanfar swings but misses the ball. Misses the off stump by a fraction.

Shadab Khan flights this one full and bowls another googly outside off, Mohammad Ghazanfar blocks the ball back towards the bowler.

Mohammad Ghazanfar is the last man in and he will face the hat-trick ball!

OUT! TIMBER! Shadab Khan with another googly and this time Ayush Shukla cannot read it at all. This is tossed up, full and on off, turning in sharply, Ayush Shukla looks to slog it but plays all over it. The ball goes between his bat and pad and shatters the stumps. Pakistan are just one wicket away from victory now.

Drinks break. Pakistan have just blown away Hong Kong here. The quality of Pakistan is turning out to be too good for the batters and they are now even struggling to reach the 50-run mark. Pakistan have been top class with the ball and would look to wrap this one quickly now. Can they bowl out Hong Kong under 50 here?

This is full as well and just outside the off pole. Ehsan Khan gets a stride forward and blocks the ball back towards the bowler.

Mohammad Nawaz flights this one full and outside off, Ayush Shukla taps this towards cover with soft hands and rushes across for a run.