Hong Kong crash out of World Twenty20
The nightmare run continues with a second successive defeat in the group stage, this time losing by seven wickets to Afghanistan
Hong Kong's dream of rubbing shoulders with the big boys of world cricket is over.
Their nightmare run at the ICC World Twenty20 tournament continued as they slipped to their second successive defeat in the group stage, losing by seven wickets to Afghanistan on Tuesday.
"We have not held up our end of the bargain," said a crushed Hong Kong head coach Charlie Burke, referring to the fact that associate countries had to make the most of the limited opportunities that came their way to feature on the world stage.
We just didn't perform anywhere near to what we are capable of. We didn't do our basics well once again under pressure
"We just didn't perform anywhere near to what we are capable of," Burke said. "We didn't do our basics well once again under pressure."
Hong Kong failed to defend a modest total of 153 for eight, and made it easier for their opponents in the run chase, missing two dolly catches, both from top scorer Mohammed Shahzad, as well as an easy run-out which enabled Afghanistan to set the foundation for victory with two overs to spare.
"We were about 20 runs short of a competitive total and then our fielding was poor. It is inexcusable to drop someone like that who then goes on to make a big score," said Burke.
Afghanistan opener Shahzad made the most of his reprieves. He scored 68, the highest score made by an Afghan in a run chase on the international stage, perhaps underlining the fact that Hong Kong failed to apply pressure on fragile opponents.
The burly right-hander gave his first chance when on 24 he skied Haseeb Amjad to long-on where Aizaz Khan missed a sitter. In the previous over, Irfan Ahmed, fielding at mid-wicket, missed the easiest of run-outs when he failed to hit the wicket at the bowler's end from less than a metre away, giving batsman Asghar Stanikzai a let-off.