Dubai: Pakistan geared up for the three-match Twenty20 series commencing at Dubai International Stadium on November 26 with a 64-runs victory over Hong Kong at the ICC Cricket Academy ground.
Electing to bat first, Pakistan lost the wicket of experienced batsman Ahmad Shehzad for a duck with Haseeb Amjad trapping him leg before. Opener Rafatullah Mohmand and Sohaib Maqsood put on 35 runs for the second wicket with Rafatullah hitting 25 runs off 19 balls before falling in the fifth over. Umar Akmal scored just ten runs before being caught behind by wicketkeeper off Aizaz Khan. Maqsood too followed after hitting 25 runs.
Skipper Shahid Afridi too lasted only six balls to score five runs but Mohammad Rizwan kept the scoreboard moving through his knock of 55 runs off 38 balls with five boundaries and two sixes. Lower order batsmen Aamer Yamin hit 27 runs and Anwar Ali chipped in with 16 runs to help Pakistan post 167 runs in the 20 overs.
Hong Kong began their chase badly losing Waqar Barkat for 2 and one-drop batsman Babar Hayat for 6.
If not for Mark Chapman who hit a fine 50 off 39 balls with five boundaries and two sixes, Hong Kong would have been bowled out for a double digit score. Afridi and Bilal Asif took two wickets each.
