Hong Kong’s cricket team has done wonders. Hong Kong won by 9 wickets against Mongolia in a match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier. The surprising thing was that Hong Kong achieved the target in just 10 balls. In this match, Hong Kong was given a target of 18 runs to win.
In this match played on 31 August (Saturday) at Bayumas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong won the toss and decided to bowl first. Hong Kong’s decision proved to be absolutely correct. Mongolia’s team collapsed for 17 runs in just 14.2 overs. No batsman of Mongolia could touch the double digit figure. Mohan Vivekanandan scored the highest 5 runs in 18 balls from Mongolia’s side. At the same time, Luvsanjundui Erdenbulgan, Dawasuren Jamiyansuren and Gandemberel Gembold scored two runs each.
This Indian bowler created history
For Hong Kong, Ehsan Khan took four wickets for five runs. Anas Khan and Yasin Murtaza took two wickets each. However, the star performer among all these was fast bowler Ayush Shukla, who took one wicket in 4 overs without giving any runs. Ayush of Indian origin has become the third bowler to bowl all his four overs maiden in T20 International. Before this, only Saad Bin Zafar (Canada) and Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) could do so.
Saad Zafar bowled a spell of 4-4-0-2 against Panama in the T20 World Cup American Region Qualifier match in Coolidge in 2021. At the same time, Lockie achieved this feat against Papua New Guinea in the T20 World Cup 2024. Against Papua New Guinea, Lockie finished the match with the magical figures of 4-4-0-3.
For Hong Kong, Zeeshan Ali returned unbeaten on 15 and captain Nizakat Khan on 1. Jamie Atkinson (2) was the only batsman to get out. Atkinson was run out by Od Lutbayar. Hong Kong’s team has also run away on a few occasions in the Asia Cup. In such a situation, their players have the experience of playing against big teams.
Hong Kong made this record
Since Hong Kong achieved the target with 110 balls to spare, this was the third-largest victory in T20 International in terms of balls. Spain is leading in this case, which defeated the Isle of Man with 118 balls to spare. That T20 International match between Spain and the Isle of Man was played in the year 2005. Japan is second on this list, which won against Mongolia in May this year with 112 balls to spare.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)