Asia Cup 2022: India carve out 40-run win over Hong Kong

It was not quite what they would have hoped for but they will take it, considering each and every game situation they come up against during the DP World Asia Cup, will keep them in good stead come the T20 World Cup.

Nonetheless, it was perhaps another routine day for India at the office, no big, flashy show, but just getting the job done.

Star batsman Virat Kohli conjured the first half-century of the tournament, while Suryakumar Yadav played a blinder as India defeated Hong Kong by 40 runs to enter the Super Four at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Kohli scored an unbeaten 59 from 44 deliveries that contained three sixes and a boundary, while Yadav blitzed an unbeaten 26-ball 68 with six sixes and an equal number of fours as India posted an imposing 192 for two.

Admirable Hong Kong

In reply, Hong Kong finished at an admirable 152 for 5 in their 20 overs. Babar Hayat top scored for them with 41 from 35 deliveries that included three boundaries and two sixes, while Kinchit Shah made 30 from 28 balls with two fours and one six. Zeeshan Ali remained not out on 26 from 17 balls with two fours and a six.

Mammoth partnership

Earlier, Kohli and Yadav put on a mammoth 98 runs from 42 balls for the unbroken third wicket.

Kohli brought up his 50 from 40 balls with a two off off-spinner Ehsan Khan.

Opener KL Rahul made 36 from 39 balls with two sixes, while skipper Rohit Sharma scored a quick 13-ball 21 with two boundaries and a six. Kohli and Rahul put on 56 from 49 deliveries for the second wicket.

Earlier, Hong Kong captain Nizakat Khan won the toss and elected to bowl. India made one change with all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was India’s match-winner against arch-rivals Pakistan rested for this game. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant came in his place and took over the keeping gloves from DInesh Karthik.

Cautious start

India got going and had a cautious start with the opener Rohit and Rahul putting together 38 runs for the opening wicket. The pair got a productive third over where medium pacer Haroon Arshad went for 22 runs with Rohit clubbing a six and a boundary, while Rahul too smashed a six.

Rohit was looking good during his knock, while Rahul was a bit more circumspect. But the Indian skipper’s stay came to an end after his attempted pull off medium pacer Ayush Skukla hit him high on the bat and he was gobbled by Aizaz Khan, who ran in from mid-on and dived forward to lap it up.

Powerplay

India reached 44 in the powerplay but they would have definitely liked to have got a lot more.

Rahul and Kohli kept things moving but the impetus was missing and the fall of Rahul saw things turn around for India.

Sky is the limit

Yadav arrived and threw caution to the wind and provided the acceleration that India sorely needed. Yadav played some sumptuous shots and the pair brought up the 50 partnership in just 4.2 overs.

And with just about two overs to go, Kohli reached his milestone. But there were no extravagant celebrations that we have come to know from the man.

Hong Kong’s riposte

Hong Kong held their own with their batsmen going for the big shots from the get go. They were especially severe on medium pacers Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh, who were expensive, going for 53 and 44 respectively. The duo leaked 97 runs in eight overs between them. Hong Kong fared better than India in the powerplay, getting 51 runs for the loss of two wickets.

But pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja conceded only 48 runs in 11 overs between them to help India restrict Hong Kong.

Brief scores

India beat Hong Kong by 40 runs.

India 192-2 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 68 not out, Virat Kohli 59 not out, KL Rahul 36, Rohit Sharma 21)

Hong Kong 152-5 (Babar Hayat 41, Kinchit Shah 30, Zeeshan Ali 26 not out, Scott McKechnie 16 not out)

Toss: Hong Kong

SURYAKUMAR YADAV

RUNS 68

BALLS 26

SIXES 6

FOURS 6

STRIKE RATE 261.53

Did you know?

India scored 98 runs in their first seven overs

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