Asia Cup 2022: Hong Kong Register 10th Lowest Total In T20Is

Updated - 03 Sep 2022, 12:59 AM

Pakistan v Hong Kong. PC- Getty
Pakistan v Hong Kong. PC- Getty

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.

Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman (L) celebrates with teammate Mohammad Rizwan afer scoring his half-century (50 runs) during the Asia Cup Twenty20 international cricket match between Pakistan and Hong Kong at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on September 2, 2022. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav / AFP) (Photo by SURJEET YADAV/AFP via Getty Images)
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 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


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