Pakistan await as Hong Kong win nail-biting Asia Cup Qualifier cricket final against United Arab Emirates
Hong Kong score a Duckworth-Lewis revised 179 for eight off 24 overs after a rain delay sparked UAE to hit 111 runs in 8.4 overs
Two byes in the final over helped Hong Kong score a nail-biting two-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates on Thursday in the Asian Cup Qualifier cricket final as they sealed their place among the region’s elite teams in this month’s main event.
No 10 batsman Ehsan Nawaz missed a pull shot in the third ball of the 24th and final over but the wicketkeeper fumbled, allowing Ehsan and Scott McKechnie to cross and score the winning run.
Ecstatic Hong Kong players rushed on to the Kinrana ground in Kuala Lumpur to celebrate with the two batsmen as they reached their Duckworth-Lewis target of 179 for the loss of eight wickets.
UAE had scored 176 for nine in their 24 overs, having made the most of a rain interruption to pile on the runs with wickets in hand to give Hong Kong what initially appeared to be a difficult target.
“I’d like to thank UAE for playing such a tremendous game,” said Hong Kong skipper Anshuman Rath, who took over the captaincy from Babar Hayat.