144/3 (17.4)
CR : 8.15
143/7 (20.0)
CR : 7.15
Bangladesh won by 7 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Litton Das
59(39)
11:35 PM IST, 10:05 PM Local Time: Bangladesh register their first win of Asia Cup T20 2025 as they defeat Hong Kong by 7 wickets and 14 balls to spare in their tournament opener. Hong Kong at the other hand lose their second consecutive match.
Winning the toss, Bangladesh elected to bowl first with Hong Kong looking to bat first in case they had won the coin flip. Tanzim Hasan Sakib (2/21), Mahedi Hasan (0/28), Mustafizur Rahman (0/22) along with Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain kept things quiet and picked up wickets at regular intervals to restrict Hong Kong for 143/7 in 20 overs, Nizakat Khan scored 42 off 40 deliveries as the top scorer.
Starting off the chase, Bangladesh also lost 2 wickets in the powerplay as the openers Parvez Hossain Emon (19 off 14) and Tanzid Hasan (14 off 18) were sent back by Ayush Shukla and Ateeq Iqbal respectively, the powerplay score being 51/2.
Litton Das took over at number 3 and added 95 runs for the third wicket alongside Towhid Hridoy (35* off 36). Litton hit 6 fours and a maximum in his 59 off 39 balls and was cleaned up by Iqbal (2/14) with Bangladesh 2 runs away from victory.
Hridoy struggled to time the ball but remained at the crease till the end as Bangladesh closed the game in the 18th over. Only Iqbal and Shukla (1/32) managed to pick up wickets. Aizaz Khan (0/14 in 3) was tidy but the first innings total never posed a threat to the Bangladeshi batters who didn't quite cruise to the total but managed to secure the win without much worries.
Stay tuned as we return with the post match presentation.
Winning the toss, Bangladesh elected to bowl first with Hong Kong looking to bat first in case they had won the coin flip. Tanzim Hasan Sakib (2/21), Mahedi Hasan (0/28), Mustafizur Rahman (0/22) along with Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain kept things quiet and picked up wickets at regular intervals to restrict Hong Kong for 143/7 in 20 overs, Nizakat Khan scored 42 off 40 deliveries as the top scorer.
Starting off the chase, Bangladesh also lost 2 wickets in the powerplay as the openers Parvez Hossain Emon (19 off 14) and Tanzid Hasan (14 off 18) were sent back by Ayush Shukla and Ateeq Iqbal respectively, the powerplay score being 51/2.
Litton Das took over at number 3 and added 95 runs for the third wicket alongside Towhid Hridoy (35* off 36). Litton hit 6 fours and a maximum in his 59 off 39 balls and was cleaned up by Iqbal (2/14) with Bangladesh 2 runs away from victory.
Hridoy struggled to time the ball but remained at the crease till the end as Bangladesh closed the game in the 18th over. Only Iqbal and Shukla (1/32) managed to pick up wickets. Aizaz Khan (0/14 in 3) was tidy but the first innings total never posed a threat to the Bangladeshi batters who didn't quite cruise to the total but managed to secure the win without much worries.
Stay tuned as we return with the post match presentation.
Highest 3rd Wicket Partnerships in Men’s T20I Asia Cup:
98* – Virat Kohli & Suryakumar Yadav (India) vs Hong Kong at Dubai, 2022
97 – Rohit Sharma & Suryakumar Yadav (India) vs Sri Lanka at Dubai, 2022
95 – Litton Das & Towhid Hridoy (Bangladesh) vs Hong Kong at Abu Dhabi, Tonight*
98* – Virat Kohli & Suryakumar Yadav (India) vs Hong Kong at Dubai, 2022
97 – Rohit Sharma & Suryakumar Yadav (India) vs Sri Lanka at Dubai, 2022
95 – Litton Das & Towhid Hridoy (Bangladesh) vs Hong Kong at Abu Dhabi, Tonight*
TRIVIA: Litton Das’ unbeaten 59 vs Hong Kong at Abu Dhabi in 2025 is only the 2nd 50+ score for Bangladesh in Men’s T20I Asia Cup, after Sabbir Rahman’s 80 vs Sri Lanka at Mirpur in 2016.
Yasim Murtaza (Hong Kong Captain): "To be honest, I'm happy with how our batters scored. But will be more happy if one of them had batted throughout the innings and scored 70-80.
(On his run out) These kind of things happen in the ground. We know once we go back, the areas we want to work on.
We gave away too many freebies against Afghanistan. But today, we came with a plan. This is what we implemented in the middle. But Litton and the other batter had a good partnership."
(On his run out) These kind of things happen in the ground. We know once we go back, the areas we want to work on.
We gave away too many freebies against Afghanistan. But today, we came with a plan. This is what we implemented in the middle. But Litton and the other batter had a good partnership."
Player of the Match: Litton Das
Most Player of the Match Awards for Bangladesh in T20Is:
12 - Shakib Al Hasan
5 - Mahmudullah, Litton Das*
4 - Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasum Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed
12 - Shakib Al Hasan
5 - Mahmudullah, Litton Das*
4 - Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasum Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed
Litton Das (Player of the Match, Bangladesh Captain): "It's very important to win the first game. We played good cricket in the last 2 series. The pressure comes in the Asia Cup although we played really well tonight.
[On their own bowling attack] Last couple of years we have done really well. We were looking for a leg spinner and Rishad has done well in the last 2-3 years which helps the captain.
[On his knock] They batted really well. We had to bowl well in the middle overs. The ground was so big and the wicket looked at the slower side. We had to take ones and twos as well."
[On their own bowling attack] Last couple of years we have done really well. We were looking for a leg spinner and Rishad has done well in the last 2-3 years which helps the captain.
[On his knock] They batted really well. We had to bowl well in the middle overs. The ground was so big and the wicket looked at the slower side. We had to take ones and twos as well."
Bangladesh start their campaign on a winning note. Hong Kong, meanwhile, suffer two losses in a row. It's time now for us to take your leave. Keep joining us for more cricketing action all around the globe. This is me, Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of my co-commentator Ninaad Dixit, scorer Paras Yadav and statistician Aman. Until next time, cheers and good bye.