Afghanistan A Vs Hong Kong Highlights ACC Emerging Asia Cup 2024: Afghans Stunned By HK But Qualify For Semis

Afghanistan A Squad: Zubaid Akbari, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli(c), Karim Janat, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Ishaq(w), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Allah Ghazanfar, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Bilal Sami, Nangeyalia Kharote, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Numan Shah, Abdul Rahman

Hong Kong Squad: Zeeshan Ali(w), Anshuman Rath, Nizakat Khan(c), Babar Hayat, Aizaz Khan, Martin Coetzee, Yasim Murtaza, Nasrulla Rana, Ehsan Khan, Ateeq Iqbal, Ayush Shukla, Rajab Hussain, Darsh Vora, Anas Khan

Afghanistan A opts to bat first in Al Amerat.

Afghanistan A (Playing XI): Sediqullah Atal, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Darwish Rasooli(c), Numan Shah(w), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Karim Janat, Qais Ahmad, Abdul Rahman, Shahidullah Kamal, Faridoon Dawoodzai

Hong Kong (Playing XI): Zeeshan Ali(w), Anshuman Rath, Nizakat Khan(c), Babar Hayat, Martin Coetzee, Yasim Murtaza, Nasrulla Rana, Anas Khan, Ehsan Khan, Ateeq Iqbal, Ayush Shukla

Wafiullah Tarakhil was dismissed by Hong Kong's Ayush Shukla for 0 as minnows dealt early blow to the batting side. However, Sediqullah Atal and Numan Shah have held fort since then and carried on without losing a wicket in the first five overs of the game.

Score after 5 overs

AFGA 37/1

Numan Shah was the latest batter to be dismissed for Afghanistan A against Hong Kong in this Group A fixture. He was sent back on 20 as AFG-A lose their second wicket.

Score after 10 overs

AFGA 66/2

Anas Khan does it again! This time, he dismisses Shahidullah Khan, who lofts a low full toss directly to the deep square leg fielder for an easy catch. Sharafuddin Ashraf comes in next at No. 7.

AFG A: 125/8

Anas Khan claimed two wickets in the final over to dismiss Afghanistan A for 131! Karim Janat, who scored 21, became the last Afghan wicket to fall, stepping out and top-edging a flighted delivery to the cover fielder.

Anas's final figures are an impressive 6 wickets for 12 runs, while Afghanistan A finished at 131 all out in 19.5 overs, with Faridoon Dawoodzai remaining unbeaten on 0.

The Hong Kong chase begins with Zeeshan Ali facing left-arm pacer Faridoon Dawoodzai, while Anshuman Rath stands at the other end.

Noman Shah makes a diving catch behind the stumps to dismiss Anshuman Rath for a duck! After the catch, Noman struggles to get up and requires medical attention, but it doesn't seem serious. Caught behind!

Boundaries have vanished for Hong Kong since the end of the powerplay, with only 17 runs added in the last four overs, leaving their total at 50. The pressure is now on Nizakat, who remains not out on 30.

HK: 46/2

Nizakat Khan and Babar Hayat have accumulated some runs but Afghan bowlers have not conceded any boundaries in last six overs. Pressure is piling up on Hong Kong. Risks will have to be taken now.

HK 62/2 (12) need 70 runs from 48 balls

The 13th over goes for 16 and the 15th then goes for 11 and Hong Kong are right back in the game. Qais Ahmad has just finished his third over and he has given just 13 runs. Nizakat Khan has crossed the 50-run mark with three sixes and two fours. Things getting tight.

HK 96/2 (16) need 36 from 24 balls.

Qais Ahmad strikes twice in the last three balls of his spell and he has turned the game on its head. Hong Kong, who were looking like inching towards an unlikely victory, will have to work hard now. Both set batters, Nizakat Khan and Babar Hayat have been sent back.

HK 113/8 (18) need 19 from 12 balls

Hong Kong Have Done It!!!

Martin Coetzee remains cool and calm amid all the harikiri that the Hong Kong batters are committing on the other end. 15 runs from five balls for Coetzee and he has taken Hong Kong over the line against Afghanistan A. Hong Kong beat Afghanistan A by five wickets with just two balls in hand.

Make no mistake this is a massive victory for Hong Kong. The young Afghans had beaten Sri Lanka A and Bangladesh A coming into this match and Hong Kong were not given chance to win this match by many. And yet, such is sport that Hong Kong have won it. Though, it will only a consolation win for them. Afghanistan will qualify for the semifinal despite losing.

The loss for Afghanistan means they might not finish on the top of the Group A and risk facing India in the semi-final. The winner of the Sri Lanka A vs Bangladesh A match will most likely take the top spot now. You can follow the Sri Lanka A vs Bangladesh A match LIVE HERE.

Hong Kong have defeated Afghanistan A in a big upset. Hong Kong won the game by five wickets with just two balls remaining. The star of the show was undoubtedly Anas Khan who wreaked havoc on Afghanistani batters and took six wickets to stop the Afghans at just 131 all out. In reply, Nizakat Khan and Babar Hayat stitched a careful 93-run partnership for the third wicket to put Hong Kong ahead and then Martin Coetzee slammed a five-ball 15 not out to lead them to a victory. Afghanistan still manage to qualify for the semifinal despite the loss.

That will be it from our side in this game. It was a nail-biting finish with Hong Kong getting a deserving win. See you soon!