Asia Cup: Nizakat Khan’s unbeaten 52 takes Hong Kong to 149/4 against Sri Lanka
In a thrilling Asia Cup Group B match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Hong Kong put up a fighting total of 149/4 against Sri Lanka, thanks to skipper Nizakat Khan’s explosive unbeaten 52 off 38 balls. This performance on Monday marked just the second fifty by a Hong Kong batter in the tournament’s history, following Babar Hayat’s effort.
Sri Lanka won the toss and asked Hong Kong to bat first on a fresh pitch. Nizakat danced down the track brilliantly, taking on the pace bowlers and smashing boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking. His key partnership was a 61-run stand with Anshuman Rath, who scored a gritty 48 off 46 balls. This duo gave Hong Kong a defendable score in the high-stakes Asia Cup clash.
Luck favored Hong Kong early on. Openers Zeeshan Ali and Rath smashed three boundaries in the first three overs. Zeeshan, especially, had a charmed run—he survived an lbw shout from Nuwan Thushara and got dropped at backward point off the same bowler. But his quickfire 23 off 17 balls ended in the fifth over when he top-edged to keeper Kusal Mendis off Dushmantha Chameera.
By the end of the powerplay, Hong Kong reached 41/2. Rath then welcomed spinner Wanindu Hasaranga with a pulled four. However, Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana tightened the screws, slowing the run rate. Babar Hayat tried to break free with a lofted shot but got stumped off Hasaranga.
Post the halfway mark, Nizakat turned it on. He smashed Hasaranga for a massive six over long-on and later sliced Thushara behind square for four. He also cut Theekshana through point and lofted through mid-off for more boundaries. Rath joined the fun, driving Hasaranga through extra cover for four.
Rath fell agonizingly short of his half-century, holing out to deep mid-wicket off Chameera for 48. Skipper Yasim Murtaza followed soon, caught at deep backward point off Dasun Shanaka. Nizakat survived a dropped catch by Kusal Mendis in the 17th over and a stunning grab by Kusal Perera at fine third man off Thushara—but replays showed a no-ball, saving him.
Shaking it off, Nizakat hammered Chameera for a towering six down the ground and reached his fifty off 36 balls with a clever sliced two off Theekshana. His leadership helped Hong Kong end at a respectable 149/4 in 20 overs.
Brief scores: Hong Kong 149/4 in 20 overs (Nizakat Khan 52*, Anshuman Rath 48; Dushmantha Chameera 2/29, Dasun Shanaka 1/5) vs Sri Lanka. Now, all eyes are on how Sri Lanka chases this total in the Asia Cup 2023 encounter.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
