Pakistan to meet India on Sunday in Super 4s encounter in Dubai.
Hong Kong captain Nizakat Khan won the toss and chose to bowl first. Pakistan struggled for the better part of the innings with Babar getting out early for 9 runs. Then Mohammad Rizwan (78* in 57 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (53) added 113 runs for the second wicket to bring stability into the innings.
After Fakhar got out, Khushdil Shah hammered the HK bowlers scoring 35* in 15 balls with 5 sixes to his name, propelling Pakistan to 193/2 in 20 overs.
In reply, Hong Kong never really got going as the Pakistan pacers Naseem Shah (2/7), Shahnawaz Dahani (1 wicket) troubled them with pace and then spinners Mohammad Nawaz (3/5) and Shadab Khan (4/8) rounded up the Hong Kong batters for 38 runs in 10.4 overs.
The Men in Green will now clash once again with India on Sunday, Sept 4 in Dubai.
BRIEF SCORES:
PAK 193/2 (M RIZWAN 78*, F ZAMAN 53; E KHAN 2/28) defeated HK 38 (S KHAN 4/8, M NAWAZ 3/5) by 155 runs.
Pakistan proceeds to the Super 4s stage of the Asia Cup 2022.