18 overs without a four – But Hong Kong fall to Zimbabwe in ICC World Cup qualifiers
The damage had already been done despite a brilliant late bowling display as the hosts win by a convincing 89 runs
Hong Kong suffered their second defeat in the ICC World Cup qualifiers on Saturday as they went down by 89 runs to hosts Zimbabwe in group B at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Although they bowled brilliantly in the final 18 overs of the Zimbabwe innings, the hosts’ belligerent start gave them the foundation they wanted and helped them set a difficult – but reachable – 263 for nine from their 50 overs.
Anshuman Rath compiled a patient 85 off 147 balls that could have been the foundation for Hong Kong to repair their innings but wickets fell around him. Hong Kong were eventually all out for 174 in 46.5 overs against the test-playing nation.
With one victory – against Afghanistan - and two defeats against Zimbabwe and Scotland, Hong Kong must win their final game with Nepal on Monday if they are to advance to the next stage of the tournament – the Super Sixes.
A party-like atmosphere in Bulawayo as locals flock to see the Chevrons take on Hong Kong! #CWCQ #RoadToCWC19 pic.twitter.com/NcVaUd7Ekc— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 10, 2018
“I think those [top-order] runs cost us the game,” Hong Kong’s captain Babar Hayat said. “Although, the way we bowled in the middle overs and in the last overs was brilliant.
“The way we bowled, to restrict them to under 300, we knew that if we stayed in we could chase this target. But with the way they bowled, they didn’t give us any chance to get back in the game.