Latest Update: 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. The Asia Cup live match is being telecast on Star Sports 1 and 1 HD, Select 1 and Select 1 HD and Hindi 1 and Hindi 1 HD. The Asia Cup live streaming will take place on Hotstar. Preview: Favourites India will look to overpower Hong Kong in their Asia Cup opener and prepare for the much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan the next day. Hong Kong, expectedly, lost to Pakistan by eight wickets in their first game. India, who even without talismanic skipper Virat Kohli, should give them the same treatment. [caption id=“attachment_5207621” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  India captain Rohit Sharma and Hong Kong skipper Anshuman Rath. AFP[/caption] Under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and with experienced M.S. Dhoni in their ranks, India will look to get their combination right in the first game before the tougher test of Pakistan on which all eyes will rest. Besides Rohit, the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Kedar Jadhav add teeth to their batting while in the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal throw up a lot of variety. The Asia Cup will once again bring to the fore Dhoni’s batting frailties with age as his strike rate has been below par in recent limited overs matches. The celebrated former India captain, known for his big hitting skills, has been a pale shadow of his former self lately and will once again come under the scanner if the same trend continues. India’s middle order is an issue too and needs to be resolved ahead of the World Cup next year. The Bumrah-Bhuvneshwar combination will be back in action along with the Kuldeep-Chahal combination, which has been a steady set-up for past one year. Back in the mix after a back injury, Bhuvneshwar will also look to use the Hong Kong game as a warm-up ahead of the Pakistan tie. He recently came back to competitive cricket for India A against South Africa A. Squads India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, M.S. Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shardul Thakur, Dinesh Karthik, Khaleel Ahmed. Hong Kong: Anshuman Rath (Captain), Aizaz Khan, Babar Hayat, Cameron McAulson, Christopher Carter, Ehsan Khan, Ehsan Nawaz, Arshad Mohammed, Kinchit Shah, Nadeem Ahmed, Raag Kapur, Scott McKehnie, Tanvir Ahmed, Tanvir Afzal, Waqas Khan, Aftab Hussain. With inputs from IANS
Highlights, India vs Hong Kong, Asia Cup 2018 at Dubai, Full Cricket Score: India post hard-fought 26-run win over Hong Kong
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.
 "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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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