Cricket
Here are live updates from the 2018 Asia Cup clash between India and Hong Kong.
Updated : Sep 19, 2018, 01:43 AM IST
India survived a mighty scare before recording an unimpressive 26-run win over minnows Hong Kong in their opening group league match of the Asia Cup on Tuesday. India scored 285/7 in their 50 overs as Hong Kong bowled well in the final 10 overs conceding only 48 runs. Shikhar Dhawan was the star of Indian batting with his 127 runs off 120 balls while Ambati Rayudu scored a good half century.
In reply, Hong Kong managed 259/8 in their 50 overs thanks to a 174-run opening stand between Nizakat Khan (92) and Anshuman Rath (73).
Earlier, Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field against India in the 2018 Asia Cup on Tuesday.
For India, fast-bowler Khaleel Ahmed made his debut. He was handed his maiden cap by skipper Rohit Sharma. The big news from the Indian camp was that KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah were left out.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (w), Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, K Khaleel Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Hong Kong: Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath (c), Babar Hayat, Christopher Carter, Kinchit Shah, Ehsan Khan, Aizaz Khan, Scott McKechnie (w), Tanwir Afzal, Ehsan Nawaz, Nadeem Ahmed.
OUT
Yuzvendra Chahal gets a wicket in his last over. Shah was going for a big hoink but it was away from his body. He ends up slicing it up in the air. Dhawan gets under it from point and then celebrates in his trademark style after an easy catch.
Hong Kong require another 59 runs with 5 wickets and 34 balls remaining
SIX
Anshuman Rath clears the midwicket boundary to hit his first MAXIMUM of the match. Hong Kong are now going for the win.
Jadhav, however, does well to give away just a single after giving away the six off the first ball. Very crucial period of the game.
Hong Kong 164/0 after 32 overs
The run rate has done below 5 for the first time in this innings. Nizakat Khan (81 off 103 balls) and Anshuman Rath (54 off 80 balls) need to start getting some runs if they have to keep Hong Kong in the match. India will sense a chance to get a wicket here.
Hong Kong 144/0 after 30 overs
The Indian spinners have slowed the scoring rate here but they have not managed a wicket.
The required run rate is over 6.2 now. Khan and Rath have enjoyed a little bit of luck as well. Rath has been hampered by a 'cramps' issue. Hong Kong now require another 153 runs with 10 wickets and 138 balls remaining.
Hong Kong 133/0 after 27 overs
What a start this has been for Hong Kong... they are 110 without loss after 20 overs and need 176 runs more off 180 balls. India will be getting a little itchy while Hong Kong may be sensing an historic opportunity. However, there is still a long way to go right now.
Hong Kong 110/0 after 20 overs
BIG APPEAL and REVIEW
Kuldeep Yadav hits Nizakat Khan's pads and then nearly falls over appealing for lbw.
The umpire turns it down but India take a review. It is clear the ball pitched outside leg. The decision will stand and India are out of reviews.
Hong Kong 91/0 after 16 overs
Good start this by Hong Kong. Nizakat Khan (40) and Anshuman Rath (15) have taken Hong Kong to 56/0 after 10 overs. Khan in particular had looked at ease against the Indian pacers. It seems India will need to rely on their spinners to win the game.
Hong Kong need 230 runs off 240 balls now.
India have scored 285/7 off their 300 balls. Hong Kong bowled well in the final 10 overs conceding only 48 runs.
India are still the overwhelming favourites with a formidable spin bowling attack.
Shikhar Dhawan was the star of Indian batting while Ambati Rayudu scored a good half century.
We'll be back for the chase soon.
Another one bites the dust!
This time it's Dinesh Karthik. He never really looked settled at the crease, went for a slog-sweep but got caught at the deep mid-wicket fence. DK walks back for 33 off 38.
India have now lost three wickets in the span of eight runs.
Wonderful comeback from Hong Kong. They've never stopped fighting as a unit.
IND - 248/5 after 42.3 overs.
What's happened here?!
Dhoni tries to guide one off the front foot towards point, the ball takes a faint edge and the keeper makes no mistake.
The legend walks back for a duck.
Off-spinner Ehsan Khan has taken a wicket he'll never forget.
The few people in the stadium are left stunned.
IND 242/4 after 41.4 overs.
Dhawan has thrown away his wicket. Quite literally.
A tired shot from the left-hander, tries to slap one from an off-spinner straight back but fails to connect. The top edge goes straight to point.
A fine knock from Dhawan comes to an end, he walks back for 127 off 120.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni walks in to have a bat.
IND - 240/3 after 40.4 overs.
SIX!
Dhawan has decided to cut loose, gets his first maximum of the innings.
Ehsan fires it in from around the wicket, Dhawan gets on one knee and sweeps it for six.
Drama in the final ball of the over. Dhawan switches to a right-hander's stance, tries to slap the ball away but it crashes into his pad.
Hong Kong appeal for LBW but the umpire keeps his finger down. The review is taken and the replay shows that the ball would've missed the stumps.
IND - 216/2 after 38 overs.
This has been a top knock from the 32-year-old. He's looked in complete control throughout. He enjoys playing white-ball cricket, thrives in it. His hundred today has come in 105 balls.
Dhawan needs to keep going, though. He's seeing the ball like a football now and needs to help up the ante.
IND - 198/2 after 36 overs.
Another bouncer from Nawaz, another hook to the fence from Dhawan. This ploy clearly isn't working for Hong Kong.
Dhawan is now batting on 95. After a difficult tour of England, this will be a much-needed century for the left-handed opener.
Meanwhile, Karthik is struggling at the other end. The right-hander manages just a single off a free-hit.
IND - 185/2 after 34 overs.
Nawaz going for the same ploy that got the better of Rayudu - banging it short.
Dhawan, just like Rayudu, isn't wearing a helmet even against pacers. But the left-hander does well to get out of the line of the ball and hook it for four.
Another boundary. Much, much better this time.
Dhawan puts his front leg out and thumps it on the rise for four past covers. He's on 89 now.
IND - 176/2 after 32 overs.
The partnership is finally broken.
Rayudu has a lapse in concentration after getting to his fifty.
He wasn't wearing a cap and medium-pacer Nawaz decided to bowl a bouncer. The ball had good height and Rayudu went for a loose cut shot.
Keeper Scott McKechnie does exceedingly well to hold on to a faint edge. Rayudu has to walk back for a well-compiled 60 off 70. His stand of 116 with Dhawan for the second wicket comes to an abrupt end.
Dinesh Karthik is the new man at the crease for India.
IND - 163/2 after 30 overs.
Both batsmen playing without helmets. Is it because of the lack of pace by the bowlers, lack of bounce in the wicket, or the heat in Dubai?
Meanwhile, Rayudu brings up his half-century with a loose shot. Goes for a wild square-cut, the ball takes the edge and races away to the third-man fence.
However, this has been a promising knock from the right-hander. This is a comeback match for him, after being out of Team India for a long time.
Rayudu's talent was never doubted, India will be in a great position if he keeps scoring as we inch closer to the 2019 ICC World Cup in England.
IND - 152/1 after 28 overs.
Boundary after a gap of 22 deliveries for India. Rayudu pulls one from Aizaz to the fence.
This shows how tidy Hong Kong's bowling has been. No one expected them to run through the Indian batting line-up, but they can be proud of how they haven't been blown away half-way through the innings.
IND - 142/1 after 26 overs.
Hong Kong doing well to keep the run-flow in check.
Dhawan had started off on an aggressive note but is content rotating the strike at the moment.
Rayudu, as was expected, is taking his time by dealing in singles and doubles.
Both teams will be relatively pleased with their positions as we head towards the 20-over mark.
IND - 85/1 after 17 overs.
Shot! Dhawan rocks back and cuts Ehsan between point and short-third for four.
Another boundary!
The exact same shot, only this time there was a misfield at point that aided Dhawan's cause.
Some sharp turn there for Ehsan, beats Dhawan's outside edge with a beauty.
That's the end of the Powerplay.
IND 56/1 after 10 overs.
Rohit Sharma perishes.
Spin introduced in the form of Ehsan Khan and the off-spinner strikes in his first over.
The Indian captain tries to step out and hit the ball out of the stadium. Only manages to get a top-edge that is pouched with ease by the mid-off fielder.
One of those brain fade dismissals of Rohit. He walks back for 23 off 22, ruining the fact that he has missed a golden opportunity to score a big hundred.
Ambati Rayudu is the new man at the crease for India.
IND - 45/1 after 7.4 overs.
Scintillating stroke from Dhawan!
Gets his front leg well outside off and drives it with authority on the rise. The ball blazes through the covers region.
Another boundary!
This time Dhawan leans back and hits a lofted pull for four.
The Indian openers are starting to flex their muscles.
IND - 42/0 after 6 overs.
Second time in a row that Afzal's over starts with a boundary.
Dhawan makes the most of the absence of any pace whatsoever by flicking it with power past mid-wicket.
Rohit joins the party with a trademark stroke. Stays still and lofts it straight back for a four.
Another boundary! Similar shot, only this time the ball was fuller and lofted towards the mid-wicket fence. Rohit has had enough of this military-medium pace-bowling, it seems.
IND - 34/0 after 5 overs.
Ehsan Nawaz bowls the second over for Hong Kong. Did well for the most part, keeping it straight and at a good length. India, though, manage to keep rotating the strike.
The wicket is white, flat, and a batter's paradise. Would be a shame if India don't go well over 300.
IND - 13/0 after 2 overs.