New Delhi: Hong Kong won the Asia Cup Qualifiers 2022 after beating UAE in their final game. With three out of three, Hong Kong looked unstoppable, and now they gear up to play against India and Pakistan in group A of the main event. The team also won the qualifiers event in 2018.
In the game, Ehsan Khan started well for Hong Kong as he dismissed UAE’s star batter, Chirag Suri, in the first over itself. Ayush Shukla took over and dismissed Muhammad Waseem and Vriitya Arvind in a single over. Aryan Lakra with captain Chundangapoyil Rizwan tried to build a partnership by Shukla struck again to get Lakra out. It was then Rizwan and Zawar Farid who built a 60-run partnership for the sixth wicket. As UAE stood 137/5 in 18 overs, Ehsan came back to wreak havoc. He took three wickets in the 19th over and UAE could only muster up 147 runs.
Chasing 148, captain Nizakat Khan and Yasim Murtaza opened with an 85-run partnership. The game was totally in favour of Hong Kong and Babar Hayat with Kinchit Shah finished the matter to qualify for the main event. Nizakat scored a run-a-ball 39, while Yasim hit 58 off 43. Babar Hayat added quickfire 38* off 26 balls. Ehsan Khan was named the Player of the Match for his 24/4.
Kuwait wins against Singapore to finish second on the table
We’re half way there in the penultimate qualifier match!
Kuwait have a chance to be in the mix of qualifying race and make it a three-way fight!#SINvKUW #ACC #AsiaCup2022 #AsiaCupQualifiers #Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/7NoyX21rWz
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) August 24, 2022
Kuwait got Singapore all out for 104 as only four batters could manage a double-figure score. Yasin Patel took four wickets with two coming in the sixth over, while Shiraz Khan took three and Sayed Monib struck twice in the 19th over. Kuwait chased the score in just 7.5 overs as everyone played a powerfully struck inning. It was Monib who stole the show with 32* off just 10 balls. Yasin was named the Player of the Match for his 22/4 and two catches.
Hong Kong schedule ahead
Hong Kong will begin its Asia Cup campaign against India on August 31. They will face Pakistan on September 2. The two Asian giants India and Pakistan will be tougher opponents for Hong Kong and they will have to play their best game to register a win.