Kuala Lumpur– Hong Kong secured a commanding 23-run victory over Singapore in a rain-affected match at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur, during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A. The match, which saw both teams battling under challenging conditions, was curtailed to eight overs per side after rain interrupted the proceedings. Hong Kong, powered by a scintillating knock from Zeeshan Ali, proved too strong for Singapore, keeping their hopes alive in the qualifier.
Hong Kong Posts a Dominant Total
After winning the toss and electing to field, Singapore quickly realized the threat posed by Hong Kong’s batting lineup. Despite losing Jamie Atkinson early, Hong Kong found stability in Zeeshan Ali, who played a match-winning innings of 70 off just 35 balls, including 5 fours and 5 sixes. Ali’s explosive batting, combined with a solid contribution from captain Nizakat Khan (34 off 20 balls), set the tone for a formidable total.
Babar Hayat (24 off 20 balls) and Aizaz Khan (30 off 20 balls) also chipped in with valuable contributions, helping Hong Kong reach 201/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Singapore’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, with Ramesh Kalimuthu conceding 63 runs in his four overs, despite picking up two wickets. Akshay Puri was the pick of the bowlers for Singapore, taking 2/38 in his three overs.
Rain Disrupts Singapore’s Chase
The heavens opened up during the innings break, reducing Singapore’s target to 97 runs from eight overs under the DLS method. Faced with a steep chase, Singapore needed a brisk start, but they faltered early, losing wickets at regular intervals. Ehsan Khan’s spin proved too much for the Singaporean batsmen, as he claimed 3/18 in his two overs, derailing Singapore’s chase.
Manpreet Singh’s quickfire 22 off 9 balls provided a glimmer of hope, but it was too little, too late. Aritra Dutta (18 off 11 balls) tried to keep the scoreboard ticking but fell to Yasim Murtaza’s bowling. In the end, Singapore could only manage 73/4 in their eight overs, falling short by 23 runs.
Key Records and Milestones:
- Most Catches in T20Is for Hong Kong: Nizakat Khan set a new record for Hong Kong by taking his 46th catch in T20Is, surpassing Babar Hayat’s previous record of 45 catches.
- Lowest Match Aggregate Involving Hong Kong & Singapore in T20Is: The match aggregate of 274 runs is now the lowest in T20I encounters between Hong Kong and Singapore, highlighting the challenging conditions and disciplined bowling from both sides.
Brief Scores:
Hong Kong: 201/8 in 20 overs (Zeeshan Ali 70, Nizakat Khan 34, Akshay Puri 2/38, Ramesh Kalimuthu 2/63)
Singapore: 73/4 in 8 overs (Manpreet Singh 22, Aritra Dutta 18, Ehsan Khan 3/18)
Result: Hong Kong won by 23 runs (DLS method)
Player of the Match: Zeeshan Ali (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong’s victory not only boosts their chances in the qualifier but also highlights their depth in batting and bowling, making them a formidable side as the tournament progresses.
