ABU DHABI, UAE: Afghanistan launched their Asia Cup campaign in style with a commanding 94-run victory over Hong Kong at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, marking a perfect start to their tournament journey.
Batting first, Afghanistan overcame early setbacks to post a challenging total of 188 for 6. The innings was steadied by Sediqullah Atal’s unbeaten 73, while Azmatullah Omarzai lit up the evening with a record-breaking 20-ball half-century, the fastest by an Afghan in T20I history. Their 82-run stand for the fifth wicket completely turned the game in Afghanistan’s favour, setting a strong platform for the bowlers.
Hong Kong, in reply, never found their footing. The Afghan bowling attack struck early and often, dismantling their batting line-up and restricting them to just 94 for 9 in the allotted overs. The one-sided contest showcased Afghanistan’s growing depth and balance in the shorter format.
Despite the emphatic win, head coach Jonathan Trott was not fully satisfied, calling the batting “patchy” and pointing out lapses in catching. He stressed the need for sharper execution ahead of Afghanistan’s upcoming clash with Bangladesh on September 16.
With this victory, Afghanistan has not only collected crucial points but also sent a strong message to other teams in the competition that they are ready to fight hard for the Asia Cup title.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.