Afghanistan Start Asia Cup with Dominant Win

Afghanistan kicked off the eight-nation Asia Cup with a convincing 90-run victory over Hong Kong in a Group B match of the T20 tournament in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Responding to Afghanistan's total of 188 for six, Hong Kong could only manage 94 for nine in their full 20 overs.

At the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Babar Hayat was the top scorer for Hong Kong with 39 runs off 43 balls. Almost every Afghan bowler took a wicket.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Afghanistan, who had lost two wickets for 26 runs early on, scored 78 runs in the last five overs to post a formidable total of 188 for six.

Their total was bolstered by two half-centuries. Sediqullah Atal, who was given a lifeline in the very first over, top-scored with 73 runs from 52 balls, an innings that included six fours and three sixes. Azmatullah Omarzai smashed 53 runs off just 21 balls, hitting five sixes and two fours.

Sediqullah and Azmatullah put on an 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket, the highest for this wicket in the men's T20 Asia Cup.

Hong Kong's fielders dropped five catches, the most by any team in a single innings of the T20 Asia Cup. Sediqullah was dropped three times on his own. Ayush Shukla and Kinshit Shah took two wickets each.