Afghanistan outclassed Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi, posting 188 for 6 before bowling their opponents out for just 94, sealing a massive 94-run victory in scorching conditions.
Omarzai’s Blazing Knock in the Heat
On a sweltering 41°C afternoon, Azmatullah Omarzai lit up the ground with Afghanistan’s fastest T20I fifty. His aggressive stroke play and fearless approach turned the contest one-sided.
“𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝑶𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒛𝒂𝒊’𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 50 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 20 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔.”
Omarzai also produced a sharp run-out, adding to Hong Kong’s misery after their sloppy fielding display that included three dropped chances.
Atal’s Composed Anchor Role
Opening batter Sediqullah Atal looked assured at the crease. Despite being offered three reprieves — dropped on 4, 46, and again after reaching his fifty — he capitalized fully to remain unbeaten on 73 from 52 deliveries.
His calm shot selection against spin and ability to rotate strike ensured Afghanistan had a solid platform before Omarzai’s late blitz.
Hong Kong Falter Under Pressure
Hong Kong had brief control in the middle overs, where spinners Yasim Murtaza and Kinchit Shah combined to restrict runs and grab wickets. But once Omarzai arrived, the bowlers had no answers. His 18-ball assault yielded 60 runs, dismantling the death-over plans.
Babar Hayat’s fighting 39 was the only highlight for Hong Kong, but a series of poor decisions and avoidable run-outs crushed their chances.
“𝑫𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔, 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒋𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒐𝒏𝒈’𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕.”
A Clear Gulf in Quality
Afghanistan’s bowlers wrapped things up clinically. Gulbadin Naib and Fazalhaq Farooqi took two wickets each, while Rashid Khan showcased his brilliance with a sharp run-out.
Hong Kong managed only 94 for 9, with just two batters reaching double figures. The defeat exposed the gulf in class between the Associate side and Full Member Afghanistan.