PAK vs HK

Thank you very much for joining us- Mohul Bhowmick and Rajarshi Das- for this exciting quarterfinal encounter of the Asian Games 2023 between Pakistan and Hong Kong! We hope you enjoyed it. Until next time, goodbye and stay tuned to Sportskeeda!

Pakistan beat Hong Kong by 68 runs!

Aamer Jamal 41 (16) | Ayush Shukla 4-49
Babar Hayat 29 (27) } Khushdil Shah 3-13

Hong Kong's innings never quite got going. They seemed to be all at sea against the superior Pakistani bowling attack and never really held their own. 

What will disappoint Hong Kong a lot is the fact that none of their batters put up a fight against the Pakistani bowlers. They merely capitulated in front of the strong opposition and hardly held their own. 

This will disappoint Hong Kong a lot after their bowlers managed to restrict Pakistan to a manageable total. 

Hong Kong did extremely well with the ball in hand and were expected to be comfortable while batting as well, but somehow, this did not materialise. 

Pakistan, who are now through to the semifinals of the Asian Games, will be happy with their bowling performance although their batting still needs some polishing. 

Their top order has to come good if they intend to qualify for the final.

18.5 Qasim Akram to Niaz Ali, OUT! Pakistan coast to a comfortable victory eventually! Qasim floated this one up generously on middle stump, Niaz, down on one knee, looked to have a slog at it having got down on one knee. He got plenty of height, but not nearly enough distance, the man at deep mid wicket ran in, settled under the high ball, and took the catch to seal the match!

Niaz Ali c Khushdil Shah b Qasim Akram 12 (9b 1x4 1x6)

18.4 Qasim Akram to Niaz Ali, fired in on a good length on middle, the ball skidded through to Niaz, who might have been struck on the pad before he got bat on it. The umpire called not out very early

18.1 Qasim Akram to Ehsan Khan, short of a length outside off, the ball takes the glove of Ehsan and bobbles towards fine leg. Niaz calls him through for a run

17.6 Arshad Iqbal to Ehsan Khan, full toss on off stump, pushed towards the right of the man at long on. Just a single, and Ehsan retains strike

17.5 Arshad Iqbal to Niaz Ali, full, closer to off stump this time, Niaz went for a blind hoick towards leg, the ball took the edge and trickled to the right of the man at deep third. Single

17.3 Arshad Iqbal to Niaz Ali, full outside off stump, Niaz looks to repeat the same stroke, but the ball takes the edge and travels towards the man at deep third. Just one

17.2 Arshad Iqbal to Niaz Ali, SIX! My my, Hong Kong would have done better had they promoted their number 11 up the order, what a shot that is! Pitched up, just outside off, Niaz cleared his front leg, slashed this one with immense timing, and cleared extra cover!

17.1 Arshad Iqbal to Ehsan Khan, full, on the pads, glanced to the left of the man at deep backward square leg. Ehsan wanted a second but was sent back, much to the delight of the Pakistan players!

Arshad Iqbal is back into the attack.

Niaz Ali played one of the most delectable cover drives to get off the mark. He seems to be in fine touch but this came a tad too late for Hong Kong.

16.6 Qasim Akram to Niaz Ali, FOUR! Qasim dragged his length back having spotted Niaz charge down the wicket, Niaz adjusted well and cut the ball past the diving fielder at cover!