Hong Kong registered a paltry 38 runs against Pakistan in the last group stage match of the Asia Cup 2022 which was played in Sharjah on September 2, 2022. With this win, Pakistan also qualified for the last open Super 4s spot, along with Afghanistan, India, and Sri Lanka.
Hong Kong was expected to give Pakistan a run for their money as they had fared well against India, scoring 152/5 chasing 193 to win. Nizakat Khan started well, winning the toss and choosing to bowl first in Sharjah.
Babar Azam’s poor run of form continued as he perished for 9 runs, but then Mohammad Rizwan, who remained unbeaten and Fakhar Zaman (53) added 113 runs for the second wicket to put Pakistan in a good position to launch a big score.
But when Fakhar got out, Khushdil Shah was promoted up the order and he showcased why he is considered one of the best hitters of the ball. He smacked 35* in 15 balls with 5 sixes and Rizwan made 78* in 57 balls as Pakistan posted 193/2 in 20 overs. For Hong Kong, Ehsan Khan picked 2/28 in 4 overs.
Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan. (Photo: AFP)
Hong Kong Bundled Out For 38 Runs In 10.4 Overs; Registered 10th Lowest Total In T20Is
Hong Kong innings never got going as Pakistani pacers Naseem Shah and Shahnawaz Dahani peppered them with short of good length balls at a very high pace and made them unconformable in the middle.
Naseem picked 2/7, while Dahani picked one wicket as well. But the major damage was done by spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz picked 7 wickets in between them to rout Hong Kong for just 38 runs in 10.4 overs.
Shadab Khan. PC- Getty
Shadab ended with figures of 4/8 and Nawaz picked 3/5 as Pakistan registered a win by 155 runs, their biggest in terms of runs in T20I cricket. They will meet India on Sunday in Dubai in the Super 4s stage of Asia Cup 2022.
All this while, Hong Kong-registered the 10th lowest total in T20I history.
The record for the lowest total is held by Turkey, who made 21 against the Czech Republic in 2019. Amongst the full nation members, the lowest total is by West Indies, which made 45 against England in 2019 as well.
Here are the top 10 lowest totals in T20Is:
TEAM
TOTAL
OPPOSITION, YEAR
TURKEY
21
CZECH REPUBLIC, 2019
LESOTHO
26
UGANDA,2021
TURKEY
28
LUXEMBOURG, 2019
THAILAND
30
MALAYSIA, 2022
TURKEY
32
AUSTRIA, 2019
FINLAND
33
DENMARK, 2022
PHILIPPINES
36
OMAN, 2022
PANAMA
37
CANADA, 2021
HONG KONG
38
PAKISTAN, 2022
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2022 Pakistan Squad: Shaheen Afridi’s Presence Will Be Clinical For Pakistan, Highlights Umar Gul
Hong Kong registered a paltry 38 runs against Pakistan in the last group stage match of the Asia Cup 2022 which was played in Sharjah on September 2, 2022. With this win, Pakistan also qualified for the last open Super 4s spot, along with Afghanistan, India, and Sri Lanka.
Hong Kong was expected to give Pakistan a run for their money as they had fared well against India, scoring 152/5 chasing 193 to win. Nizakat Khan started well, winning the toss and choosing to bowl first in Sharjah.
Babar A…
