T20 cricket: Hong Kong make a record total to reach final in first home matches in 5 years
- Hosts make their highest ever Twenty20 total before holding off a Kuwait run chase that picked up steam in the closing stages
- The victory guarantees place in final of APC Group T20I series, in which they will face Malaysia

Hong Kong’s men’s cricketers made their highest ever score in a Twenty20 international on Thursday, in a victory over Kuwait that ensured they will contest the final of their home quadrangular tournament.
But they still had to hold their nerve in the field to clinch a second win in two days in the APC Group T20I series at Mong Kok’s Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.
It booked them a meeting on Sunday with Malaysia, whom they also play on Saturday in their remaining round-robin match of these first international fixtures in the city in five years.

Batting first after losing the toss, Hong Kong started positively, taking 12 and 14 from the first two overs. Nizakat Khan pushed on with a sweetly timed six over long off, then stood stock-still at the crease in disbelief when he reached for a delivery from Shahrukh Quddus without committing fully, directing it to wicketkeeper Usman Patel.
An over later, Babar Hayat fell, too. For the second day running, he signalled the big-hitting intent for which he is known in domestic cricket, and for the second day running he was gone in a flash, nicking Sayed Monib’s wide-ish long hop.