Highlights, India vs Hong Kong, Asia Cup 2018 at Dubai, Full Cricket Score: India post hard-fought 26-run win over Hong Kong

An unexpected match comes to an end and Rohit Sharma must be taking a sigh of big relief. Looking at it from a different point of view, this could be a blessing in disguise for India as it has given them a wake-up call. 

Now, it is the turn of the mother of all battles - India taking on Pakistan on 19 September. The match begins at 5 pm IST and we will be back with over-by-over updates again. So do come in again tomorrow. Till then goodbye and goodnight. 

Man of the match is Shikhar Dhawan.

Dhawan: I was doing my process and working hard. I knew runs were going to come. I was not taking extra risks today. My intent was positive. It was a pitch where the ball was coming slow. 

Rohit Sharma, India captain: Eventually, to win the game is very important. We had a pretty inexperienced bowling lineup. We made mistakes where we could've attacked, or been a little defensive. This tournament is all about learning, and these guys will learn from the mistakes. At the time when the going is tough, you need character. Gotta give credit to Hong Kong. Great partnership by those two openers. For us, it was a great learning curve. We will be put under pressure at times. Shikhar was a great positive. And Ambati Rayudu as well, playing after a long time. Khaleel is a very exciting player to have in our squad. Very exciting to see how he goes about things. He came back really well, and that is what I look forward to as a captain. He really found a way to come back and stick to his strength. No issues as of now. We rested a few guys, hoping they'll be fresh tomorrow. 

Highest opening stands in losing cause in run-chases: 

188 - Tillakaratne Dilshan/Upul Tharanga v India, Rajkot, 2009

174 - NIZAKAT KHAN/ANSHUMAN RATH v India, Dubai, 2018*

166 - Jesse Ryder/Brendon McCullum v India, Christchurch, 2009

Anshuman Rath, Hong Kong captain: I think we got a great start. We lost key wickets at key time. Credit to Indian bowlers as they bowled to the plan. Going into this tournament, we had no pressure, we did well. Super proud of the boys. Loads of stand out. Nizakat's innings, he batted beautifully. Death bowling was good. They could have scored 350 but our bowlers stuck at it. 

After 50 overs,Hong Kong 259/8 ( Tanwir Afzal 12 , Ehsan Nawaz 2)

India win by 26 runs. 

That's the end of it. India struggled hard for this win. But thanks to the brilliant Khaleel Ahmed, India have pulled this off. Kudos to Hong Kong for their resillience and waking up India. 

OUT! Slower from Khaleel and Ehsan Khan does not judge it well, scoops one into the air and Khaleel comfortably comes under the ball to catch it. Ehsan Khan c and b Khaleel Ahmed 22(25)

Khaleel to complete his quota. 

After 49 overs,Hong Kong 256/7 ( Ehsan Khan 22 , Tanwir Afzal 11)

Bhuvneshwar continues and bowls his last over today. Indians are just one over away from a victory, which has come after some real struggle. Pakistan should thank Hong Kong for tiring the Indians out in this game. They have less than 24 hours to recuperate and come back again to face the arch-rivals. 

FOUR! Afzal hits is straight and the player at mid-off cannot save this one.

Scoring 250-plus runs against India on this pitch is some achievement. Hong Kong came to this tournament to make their presence felt and they have done it in style I have to say.

Bhuvneshwar continues. 

This is now the highest total for Hong Kong against a Full Member nation eclipsing 241/8 against Afghanistan at Bulawayo in 2018.

After 48 overs,Hong Kong 249/7 ( Ehsan Khan 20 , Tanwir Afzal 7)

Khaleel bowls the 9th over. Still focussing hard the young man, mixing it well with slower ones and yorker. Fires in some balls to the batsmen. Hong King need 37 off the last 2 overs. 

Khaleel in to bowl his 9th over. 

After 47 overs,Hong Kong 246/7 ( Ehsan Khan 18 , Tanwir Afzal 6)

Kuldeep delivers goods in his last over. But gets hit on the last ball of the spell to end it on a bad note. Hong Kong still fighting, need 40 off 18. 

SIX! Not a great way to end the spell as Kuldeep gets hit for a six on the last ball, the ball went sailing over the sight screen.

Fastest to 50 ODI wickets: (In-terms of matches)

19 - Ajantha Mendis
23 - Ajit Agarkar, Mitchell McClenaghan 
24 - Dennis Lillee, Hasan Ali, KULDEEP YADAV*

Kuldeep Yadav's 50 ODI wickets from 24 matches

- Fastest left-arm spinner 
- Second fastest Indian
- Joint third fastest ever

OUT! Scott McKechnie this time comes out to hit Kuldeep out of the ground, the ball does not rise as much as he expected it to, misses it, Dhoni collects the ball and dislodges the bails in his own style. Scott McKechnie st Dhoni b Kuldeep Yadav 7(6) 

FOUR! Kuldeep bowls from round the wicket and right-handed Scott McKechnie reverse-sweeps him for a boundary.

Kuldeep into his last over. 

After 46 overs,Hong Kong 235/6 ( Ehsan Khan 17 , Scott McKechnie (W) 3)

Khaleel into his third spell. Continues bowling from round the wicket. He has done everything as a fast bowler in the over. Bowled yorkers, short stuff, curved in and held the line. A debut to remember for Khaleel, who has shone on the bigger stage. Let's if he gets another go against Pakistan tomorrow, oops, today. Hong Kong need 51 off 24. 

Khaleel back into the attack. 

After 45 overs,Hong Kong 230/6 ( Ehsan Khan 14 , Scott McKechnie (W) 1)

Chahal bowls the last over. He had a deep conversation with Rohit before the start of the over and it seems the plan has worked. Two wickets in the over has almost closed the gates for Hong Kong in this match. 56 needed off 30 balls. 

OUT! Wrong'un again from Chahal, trapped new man Aizaz Khan for a golden duck. India's game for the taking now. Aizaz Khan lbw b Chahal 0(1)

OUT! Chahal fires in a wrong'un and Kinchit reached out for it, sliced it to point where Dhawan made no mistake with the catch. KD Shah c Dhawan b Chahal 17(15)

Chahal to continue.

After 44 overs,Hong Kong 227/4 ( Kinchit Shah 17 , Ehsan Khan 12)

Bhuvneshwar continues. Hong Kong are still not out of this. Kinchit and Ehsan are keeping them just in touch with the chase. The required rate is touching 10 now. The big shots need to be converted into fours and sixes. They need 59 to 36. 

This is now the highest total for Hong Kong while chasing in ODIs, eclipsing 213 which they made against Scotland at Edinburgh in 2016.

Bhuvneshwar continues. 

After 43 overs,Hong Kong 220/4 ( Kinchit Shah 14 , Ehsan Khan 8)

Chahal continues. He looked lack-lustre in this over, was too wayward and leaked runs. India cannot afford to take things so lightly. Things look in control but another over or two like this can shift the pendulum. Hong Kong need 66 off 42. 

Seems Hong Kong have lost the plot now. Asking rate is above 10. That's what inexperience is all about. Half an hour back, they were cruising. At the level sustaining under pressure is the biggest challenge for these lower-ranked teams.

SIX! Flighted and width given, Kinchit heaves it over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a maximum.

Chahal continues. 

After 42 overs,Hong Kong 207/4 ( Kinchit Shah 6 , Ehsan Khan 3)

Bhuvneshwar is back on. He is bowling the length. Trying to not give any room to the batsmen. A big collision between the two batsmen in the middle but luckily, no damage done. 

Bhuvneshwar back on. 

After 41 overs,Hong Kong 203/4 ( Kinchit Shah 4 , Ehsan Khan 2)

Chahal back on. 200 up for Hong Kong but they have lost Hayat, who was hitting some lusty blows as well. From here, it should be not too tough for India but you just never know. Hong Kong need 83 in 54 balls with six wickets in hand and in this T20 age, this is not impossible.

Ehsan Khan, right handed bat, comes to the crease

OUT! Chahal has done the trick, bowls it outside the off stump, asks Hayat to come forward and slash, he does that, the ball takes the edge and goes right into Dhoni's gloves. Hayat c Dhoni b Chahal 18(20) 

After 40 overs,Hong Kong 198/3 ( Babar Hayat 18 , Kinchit Shah 1)

Khaleel Ahmed strikes on the very first ball. The third wicket is down. And suddenly, the runs are hard to come by. What a debut this is for the young man. Came into the attack when India needed wickets and he has delivered and how. 

SIX! This is some striking, Hayat picks it from the length and hits it right over the long-on for a maximum. Stand and deliver.

Kinchit Shah, left handed bat, comes to the crease

OUT! This is so much like Mitchell Starc, Khaleel comes from round the wicket and the ball straightens a bit, takes the edge off Carter's bat and Dhoni does not make a mistake behind the stumps. Christopher Carter c Dhoni b Khaleel Ahmed 3(11)

Khaleel continues. 

After 39 overs,Hong Kong 191/2 ( Babar Hayat 12 , Christopher Carter 3)

Kuldeep comes in to bowl the second last over of his spell. Got hit for a huge one. Hayat is looking to play some shots here and why not, Hong Kong need 95 off 66. 

SIX! Loopy delivery, Hayat steps out and hits one for maximum over the bowler's head. 

Nizakat Khan's dismissals in 90s:

94 v Scotland, Mong Kok, 2016
93 v U.A.E., Dubai, 2017
92 v India, Dubai, 2018*

Kuldeep continues. 

After 38 overs,Hong Kong 183/2 ( Babar Hayat 5 , Christopher Carter 2)

Khaleel runs from round the wicket. He is bowling exactly the line that is required. Outside the off stump, while some deliveries are coming in, others just straightening. Hong Kong need 103 runs from 72 balls.

FOUR! Fullish, Hayat gives charge to the bowler and hits it in between the cover and mid-on for a boundary.