AFG vs HK, Asia Cup 2025 highlights: Afghanistan thrash Hong Kong by 94 runs as Atal and Omarzai shine

Afghanistan bagged an easy victory over Hong Kong in the first match of the Asia Cup. The team won by 94 runs.

Hong Kong are 91 for 7 after 18 overs and Afghanistan at the same stage were 179 for 5. Rashid Khan and Co have been dominant in the game all the way. Naib takes the 8th wicket by sending Yasim Murtaza back. HKC needs 96 in six balls.

Hong Kong now needs 111 runs to win in 24 balls. Rashid bowling. And he gets Aizaz Khan on the second ball. HKC is seven down. Good over from skipper.

Gulbadin Naib to Babar Hayat, OUT. Hayat attempts a shot over the top but holes out to deep mid-wicket, bringing an end to his innings. Babar Hayat departs for 39 off 43 balls, including three towering sixes, at a strike rate of 90.69, with Sediqullah Atal taking the catch.

Karim Janat bowls to Babar Hayat, who responds with a huge six. What a shot that is!

Karim Janat serves a full delivery to Babar Hayat, who launches it for a massive six. Hayat goes big, adding a crucial boundary to Hong Kong’s innings.

At the end of over 11, Hong Kong adds just 1 run to reach 44/5. Babar Hayat moves to 23 runs from 36 balls, including one six, while Yasim Murtaza remains scoreless after 5 balls. Gulbadin Naib concedes 1 run in his over, and Noor Ahmad finishes with figures of 2-0-5-1. The required run rate climbs to 16.11 as Hong Kong needs 145 runs from 54 balls.

At the end of over 10, Hong Kong adds 3 runs but loses a wicket, moving to 43/5. Babar Hayat remains at the crease with 22 runs from 34 balls, including one six. Yasim Murtaza faces 1 ball without scoring. Noor Ahmad finishes his two-over spell with figures of 2-0-5-1, while Rashid Khan has conceded 15 runs in 2 overs. The required run rate climbs to 14.60 as Hong Kong needs 146 from the remaining 60 balls.

Noor Ahmad strikes as Kinchit Shah falls for 6. The bowler delivers a good-length ball, and Shah attempts a shot, only for Karim Janat to take a sharp catch. Shah, after facing 10 balls without hitting a boundary or six, departs with a strike rate of 60. Hong Kong loses another wicket, and Janat’s fielding brilliance adds to Afghanistan’s advantage.

Hong Kong adds 10 runs to reach 40/4. Babar Hayat moves to 21 off 31 balls, including 1 six, while Kinchit Shah is on 4 from 8 deliveries. Rashid Khan finishes with 0-15 from 2 overs, and Noor Ahmad has conceded 2 runs from his only over. The CRR is 4.44, RRR stands at 13.54, with 149 needed from 66 balls.

Rashid Khan to Babar Hayat, SIX! Hayat smashes it high and handsome over the boundary for a big hit.

At the end of over 8, Hong Kong are 30 for 4, adding just 2 runs in the over. Babar Hayat is on 13 from 27 balls, while Kinchit Shah has 2 from 6 deliveries. Noor Ahmad has bowled 1 over for 2 runs, and Rashid Khan has 1 over for 5 runs. The current run rate is 3.75, with 159 needed from 72 balls.

At the end of over 7, Hong Kong are 28 for 4. They have added 5 runs in the over. Babar Hayat is on 12 from 22 balls, while Kinchit Shah has 1 from 5 deliveries. Rashid Khan has bowled 1 over, conceding 5 runs, and AM Ghazanfar has 2 overs for 4 runs. The current run rate is 4.00, with 161 needed from 78 balls.

Rashid Khan bowls a full-length googly on middle and off, and Babar Hayat gets forward to poke it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

At the end of over 6, Hong Kong are struggling at 23 for 4, having added just 1 run in the over. Babar Hayat remains at the crease with 8 runs from 18 balls, while Kinchit Shah is yet to open his account, on 0 from 3 balls.

Afghanistan bowlers have kept things tight, with AM Ghazanfar conceding 4 runs in 2 overs without taking a wicket, and Azmatullah Omarzai returning figures of 2-0-4-1. Hong Kong’s current run rate is 3.83, while they require 166 runs from 84 balls to chase down the target.

Hong Kong 22/4 after 5 overs, having scored 3 runs in the over and lost 1 wicket.

Kinchit Shah is yet to open his account (0 off 3 balls), while Babar Hayat has 7 runs from 12 deliveries.

Afghanistan bowlers: Azmatullah Omarzai 2-0-4-1, AM Ghazanfar 1-0-3-0.

Current scoring rates: CRR 4.40, RRR 11.13. Hong Kong need 167 runs from 90 balls.

Azmatullah Omarzai showcased some brilliant fielding as Kalhan Challu was run out for 4. Challu advanced to a delivery just outside off and stabbed it back at the bowler. Omarzai collected the ball cleanly and, in one swift motion, hurled it at the batter’s end. Challu scrambled to make his ground, but the throw hit the stumps while his bat was still in the air, and he was dismissed. After a few minutes of earlier sloppy fielding, Afghanistan produced a moment of brilliance to break the partnership.

Ghazanfar bowls to Kalhan Challu, who nudges the ball for a single. Two Afghan fielders converge on the ball but fail to communicate, resulting in a complete mess and a dropped chance. Challu takes advantage and safely completes the run.

Fazalhaq Farooqi bowls a short, wide delivery outside off to Babar Hayat. Hayat leans into the bounce and jabs it towards point, where a fielder dives sharply to his right and snatches it one-handed. The spectacular effort nearly induces a mix-up, with Challu at risk of being run out on a direct hit. Thankfully for Hong Kong, the ball misses, and they manage to take a single from the delivery.

Nizakat Khan’s innings ended in a shocking run out for 0. Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled a full delivery outside off, prompting a stab toward mid-off. The fielder made a sharp throw to the bowler’s end, and Nizakat’s attempt to slide his bat back came just a fraction too late. What seemed like a confident position quickly turned against him, and replays confirmed the narrow margin that handed Afghanistan this unexpected breakthrough.

Zeeshan Ali falls for 5 in a soft dismissal. He edged a delivery from Azmatullah Omarzai and was comfortably taken by Mohammad Nabi. Zeeshan faced 6 balls, hitting one boundary, finishing with a strike rate of 83.33.

At the end of the first over, Hong Kong were 11 for 1. They scored 11 runs while losing their first wicket, maintaining a current run rate of 11.00. With 114 balls remaining, they still need 178 runs to chase the target of 189. Zeeshan Ali was unbeaten on 5 from 3 balls, including a boundary, while Babar Hayat was on 1 from 2 deliveries. Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled one over, conceding 11 runs and picking up the crucial early wicket.

Bonus runs for Hong Kong! Farooqi’s back-of-a-length delivery swings sharply down leg. Zeeshan misses it completely, and the keeper can’t reach it either.

Fazalhaq Farooqi made an instant impact with the new ball, trapping Anshuman Rath for a golden duck. Rath edged the delivery to Rahmanullah Gurbaz behind the stumps, leaving Hong Kong reeling at the very start of their chase.

And we’re back! Hong Kong face a daunting chase in the second innings, needing 189 to win. Their openers, Zeeshan Ali and Anshy Rath, are at the crease, with Fazalhaq Farooqi taking the new ball. Early wickets could further dent Hong Kong’s chances, as Afghanistan sets two slips in place. The chase begins now—can Hong Kong make a fight of it?

Azmatullah Omarzai set a new record today by scoring the fastest fifty for Afghanistan in T20Is, reaching the milestone in just 20 balls against Hong Kong. He surpassed Mohammad Nabi’s 21-ball effort against Ireland in 2017 and Gulbadin Naib’s 21-ball fifty against India in 2024.

With Afghanistan posting 188/6 in their 20 overs, Hong Kong faces a challenging chase. The target demands aggressive hitting from the start, and while their top order has the firepower, sustaining the required run rate of 9.40 will be tough against Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling attack. A strong start is crucial if Hong Kong hopes to pull off an upset.

Afghanistan played a classic innings, losing a few more early wickets than they would have liked but gradually regaining control with Atal and Nabi steadying the ship.

Once stability was established, Nabi accelerated the scoring, and Afghanistan dominated Hong Kong in the final overs, with Atal anchoring the innings and Omarzai registering the fastest-ever fifty by an Afghan batter in T20I cricket.

Afghanistan posted a competitive 188/6 in their 20 overs after opting to bat first against Hong Kong in a high-octane T20 encounter.

Ehsan Khan picked up another crucial wicket, dismissing Karim Janat for just 2 runs off 3 balls. Janat failed to make an impact, offering a simple catch to Nizakat Khan, ending his brief stay at the crease with a strike rate of 66.66.