Captain Litton Das hit a 33-ball half-century to guide Bangladesh to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Hong Kong in the Asia Cup.
Scorecard
Asia Cup, Abu Dhabi
Hong Kong 143-7 (20 overs): Nizakat 42 (40); Tanzim 2-21
Bangladesh 144-3 (17.4 overs): Das 59 (39); Ateeq Iqbal 2-14
Bangladesh won by seven wickets
Ultimately, Bangladesh secured the crucial two points they sought, as they overcame a determined Hong Kong side by seven wickets in their Asia Cup 2025 clash. This fixture, held on Thursday in Abu Dhabi, saw Bangladesh chase down a target of 144. Indeed, Litton Das masterfully anchored the chase with a brilliant 59. Furthermore, Towhid Hridoy provided excellent support with an unbeaten 35, consequently sealing Bangladesh’s first-ever T20I victory in Abu Dhabi.
Sakib’s Early Strikes Justify Decision to Bowl First
Initially, after winning the toss, Bangladesh’s captain decisively opted to bowl first. Subsequently, pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib immediately validated this choice with an aggressive opening spell. First, he produced a magnificent late-swinging delivery that bowled Babar Hayat. Later, he used his sharp pace to dismiss the dangerous Zeeshan Ali, thus finishing with outstanding figures of 2 for 21.
Nizakat and Zeeshan Provide Stability with 41-Run Stand
Despite the early pressure, Hong Kong’s batting performance was far more productive than their previous outing. After their initial stumbles, Nizakat Khan (42) and Zeeshan Ali (30) rebuilt the innings. Together, they forged a crucial 41-run partnership for the third wicket. Therefore, this stand ensured their batting lineup did not collapse and instead created a platform for a competitive total.
Recurring Run-Out Woes Derail Hong Kong’s Momentum
However, just as captain Yasim Murtaza began to change the match’s momentum with a blazing 28 off 19 balls, disaster struck. A calamitous miscommunication with Nizakat resulted in a costly run-out. Incredibly, this continued a worrying trend, as it was their 47th run-out in T20Is since the start of 2023. Consequently, his dismissal stalled their acceleration at a critical phase.
Rishad’s Double-Wicket Over Caps the Bowling Effort
In the death overs, spinner Rishad Hossain delivered a decisive blow. Although he was expensive initially, he hit back strongly in the 19th over. In a fantastic turnaround, he dismissed the set batsman Nizakat Khan. Then, off the very next ball, he trapped Kinchit Shah lbw, thereby halting Hong Kong’s late charge and helping restrict them to 143 for 7.
Early Wobbles Create Opportunity Before Extras Prove Costly
In response, Bangladesh’s chase began with some early nerves. The team lost both Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan inside the powerplay. This, in turn, gave Hong Kong a brief glimmer of hope. Unfortunately for them, their disciplined effort was undermined by conceding extras. Ultimately, they gave away 17 extras in total, which allowed Bangladesh to motor to 51 for 2 in the powerplay despite the wickets.
Litton and Hridoy’s 95-Run Stand Squeezes Hong Kong
From that point forward, Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy took complete control. The pair constructed a match-winning 95-run partnership. Interestingly, their strategy relied heavily on aggressive running between the wickets. For instance, their constant sprinting resulted in 16 twos for the team, their second-highest in a T20I. As a result, this not only kept the scoreboard ticking but also visibly drained their opponents in the heat.
Litton’s Swift Acceleration Seals Dominant Victory
Initially, Litton accumulated runs steadily, moving to 26 off 24 balls. Then, seeing the opposition tire, he broke the shackles completely. He brilliantly accelerated to reach his half-century in just 33 deliveries. Although a bowler dismissed him when only two runs were needed, his job was already done. Therefore, his final strike rate of 151.28 ensured Bangladesh cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win.