Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, Asia Cup 2025 Highlights: Afghanistan win by 94 runs in tournament opener

Rashid Khan to Babar Hayat, Drags the length, on middle, tucked wide of mid on for a single. 

Rashid Khan to Kinchit Shah, Flipper, full and outside off. Kinchit Shah bludgeons it down the ground, but Rashid purposefully sticks out his right leg, and the ball deflects to run down to long off for a single.

Rashid Khan to Kinchit Shah, An appeal for caught behind, but the umpire says no. Rashid Khan, after a brief chat with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, sends it upstairs. This is dished out full and on the middle stump line. The ball lands and spins back into the batter. Kinchit Shah shuffles across to play the scoop shot, but the ball passes close to the inside edge and pops off the front pad. Rahmanullah Gurbaz moves to his right and gathers it safely. UltraEdge comes up and shows that the ball is clearly missing the inside edge. And now, the third umpire checks for a possible LBW. Ball Tracking shows the impact is outside the off stump line. So, NOT OUT on both fronts. 

Rashid Khan to Babar Hayat, Sliding onto the pads and on the fuller side, Babar Hayat nudges it across on the leg side for a run.

Rashid Khan to Babar Hayat, Fuller and straighter at the stumps, Babar Hayat defends it off the front foot.

Slight halt! It looks like Kinchit Shah is struggling with cramps here. The physio is in to check on him and doing some stretches. The Afghan players are using this break to discuss a few tactics on how to go about from here. Shah seems fine now, and we are good to go. Also, Azmat is off the field for now.

Rashid Khan to Babar Hayat, Drops it fuller and around the pads, Babar Hayat turns it away towards the vacant square leg region and charges back for the second run and completes it easily. Rashid Khan doesn't look happy with that fielding effort.

At the end of the Powerplay, Afghanistan were 41/2. So, a big difference between the two sides. Will we see another over from Azmatullah Omarzai? No, Rashid Khan brings himself into the attack now.

AM Ghazanfar to Babar Hayat, Shortens the length, on off, Babar Hayat rocks back and punches it down to long off for a single. Hong Kong, China end their Powerplay at 23/4, needing 166 runs!

AM Ghazanfar to Babar Hayat, Floated up, full and in front of the sticks. Hayat lunges forward with a giant stride to block it back.

AM Ghazanfar to Babar Hayat, A big appeal for LBW, but the umpire does not entertain it. Looked to be sliding down the leg stump line, or maybe a little scratch on the inside edge. In-drifter, staying low, on a fuller length. Babar Hayat is hurried to go back and tries to block it forward, but gets a thick inside edge onto the front pad. The UltraEdge detects a clear spike on the inside edge.

AM Ghazanfar to Babar Hayat, Goes fuller and gets the ball to drift in late around the stumps, Babar Hayat looks to push it away, but ekes out an inside edge towards short mid-wicket.

AM Ghazanfar to Babar Hayat, Bowls the in-drifter, fuller and around middle, Babar Hayat goes back and knocks it back towards the bowler.

AM Ghazanfar to Babar Hayat, Fuller and sliding into the pads, Babar Hayat pushes it off the inner half of the bat towards the bowler.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Kinchit Shah, Fuller than a length, on off, driven down to mid on. Just 3 runs in the over. Azmatullah Omarzai's figures read 2-0-4-1.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Kinchit Shah, Full and angling into the batter, on the leg stump line. Kinchit Shah tries to flick that away, but misses and wears on the front pad. A big appeal for LBW, but the umpire shakes his head in denial. Probably doing a bit too much to go down leg.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Kinchit Shah, Inswinger on the pads, on a length, Kinchit misses to flick and the ball thuds the thigh pad.

Kinchit Shah walks out to bat now.

Is that another run out? Superb piece of work from Azmatullah Omarzai on his follow-through. He picks up and hits the stumps at the batter's end in the blink of an eye. The replay shows that Kalhan Challu is short of his crease. Second run out of the innings.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Kalhan Challu, OUT! RUN OUT! All going south for Hong Kong, China here! Azmatullah Omarzai can do nothing wrong this evening! Swings back in from off, on a fuller length, on middle. Kalhan Challu is hurried and drives straight back to the bowler, off the inside half of the bat. Azmatullah Omarzai collects the ball to his right and, seeing Challu out of the crease after playing the shot, he releases a flat throw in a motion, towards the batting end. Scores a direct hit as the stumps are smashed with Kalhan Challu trying to turn around. He dives and stretches his hand to drag his bat inside the popping crease. However, the side-on replay shows that Challu's bat is marginally in the air, while the stumps are hit. Kalhan Challu departs for 4 (8) and Hong Kong, China are 22/4.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Kalhan Challu, Good fielding this time around! Good length, outside off, Kalhan Challu waits back and punches it to deep backward point. Karim Janat from deep third runs across to his right and slides to intercept. Does well to flick the ball inside in time and saves two for his side.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Babar Hayat, IN THE AIR... DROPPED! A huge reprieve for Babar Hayat! Rashid Khan's expressions say it all! Back of a length, outside off. Babar Hayat reaches for it, extends his arms and flashes at it hard. Only gets a thick outside edge and the ball pops up and behind. Dips in front of the incoming Karim Janat from deep third. He dives forward, gets his hands on the ball, but it just pops in and out of his palms. A single taken.

AM Ghazanfar to Kalhan Challu, OPPORTUNITY GONE BEGGING! AM Ghazanfar dishes out a fuller delivery, on middle, sliding into the batter through the air. Kalhan Challu tries to slog it over the leg side, but gets a leading edge. The ball hangs up in the air for a long time, to the right of mid off. Ibrahim Zadran tries to settle under it, but Sediqullah Atal comes charging towards his left from mid on and with no calling from either of the two for the catch, the ball drops between them. AM Ghazanfar is not happy and rightly so. 

AM Ghazanfar to Kalhan Challu, A slip in place now. Full and at 95 kph, on middle. Challu lunges forward and pushes it to mid on.

AM Ghazanfar to Kalhan Challu, Quicker in-drifter, on a fuller length, on middle. Kalhan Challu creates room and steers it to the point fielder.

AM Ghazanfar to Babar Hayat, Slides it down leg, on a fullish length. Hayat leans on and tucks it to wide square leg for a single.

AM Ghazanfar to Kalhan Challu, Slider onto the pads, clipped away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

AM Ghazanfar to Babar Hayat, AM Ghazanfar is into the attack. Hard length, around off, nipping in a touch. Babar Hayat stands tall and flat bats it down the ground for a single.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Babar Hayat, Risky running! Back of a length, outside off. Babar Hayat taps it with soft hands to the point fielder and rushes off for a quick single. Kalhan Challu is struggling to get home at the batting end, but the fielder misses to score a direct hit, which allows Challu to get safely in.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Kalhan Challu, Full, angling in, Kalhan Challu pushes at the delivery, gets an inside edge due to the late inswing. The ball rolls to deep backward square leg for a single.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Kalhan Challu, Jags back in sharply, on a hard length, on middle. Kalhan Challu hops off the crease and wears it onto the thigh pad.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Babar Hayat, Rolls the fingers on the leather, on a length, onto the pads. Babar Hayat waits for it and turns it to the leg side for a single.

Kalhan Challu is the next man in.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Babar Hayat, RUN OUT! Oh, dear! This is the last thing Hong Kong, China would have wanted! Full delivery, on off, Babar Hayat gets on the front foot and drives it firmly, but straight to mid off. Nizakat tries to pinch in a single, but is sent back by Babar. There is a direct hit at the non-striker's end from Rashid Khan. Oh, hang on! This is really closer than it appears and the on-field umpires have sent it upstairs for a run out check. Looks like Nizakat Khan's bat is marginally outside the crease. The zoomer comes in and confirms that Nizakat is just short of his crease. He departs without facing a single delivery and Hong Kong, China are tottering at 13/3, needing 176 runs! 

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Babar Hayat, WIDE! Miles outside off, beyond the tramline, Babar tries to reach out for it, but misses. Wide called.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Babar Hayat, Length-delivery, swinging away from outside off. Babar Hayat flashes hard to work it square on the off side, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Nizakat Khan comes out to the middle with Hong Kong, China in early trouble.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Zeeshan Ali, OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! After doing wonders with the bat, Omarzai strikes gold with the ball as well. He lands this on the fuller side, and gets the ball to curve away from middle. Zeeshan Ali tries to work it leg side, but does not account for the ball shaping late, and ends up chipping it off the leading edge. Mohammad Nabi from mid on runs to his left and takes a good running catch. A soft, soft dismissal for Ali. Both Hong Kong, China openers are back in the hut, in the first couple of overs! Zeeshan Ali goes for 5 (6) and Hong Kong, China are 12/2, needing 177 runs!

Azmatullah Omarzai to Zeeshan Ali, Fuller and outside off, driven firmly, but straight to the cover fielder.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Zeeshan Ali, Sharp nip-backer, on middle and leg, shortish in length. Zeeshan Ali is cramped for space and tries to work it across, but misses and wears on the back thigh pad.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Babar Hayat, Back of a length, shaping away late, outside off. Hayat hangs the bat away and gets a thick outside edge. The ball runs behind to deep third for a single.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Babar Hayat, Curves away a shy bit, on a length, around off. Babar Hayat lets the ball come at him and punches it to the off side with soft hands.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Babar Hayat, Nagging length, shaping away, on off. Babar pushes at it and gets a thick inside edge as the ball dribbles past the off stump to the keeper.

Azmatullah Omarzai to share the attack.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Zeeshan Ali, Around the stumps, swinging into the batter, on a length, outside off. Zeeshan mistimes and heaves it off the toe end to short mid-wicket. 11 off the first over then!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Zeeshan Ali, FOUR! Lovely stroke! That will give him a lot of confidence! Fuller delivery, angling around off. Zeeshan Ali taps the front foot forward and drives it straight down the ground for a cracking boundary!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Zeeshan Ali, FIVE WIDES! Wayward and miles down leg, Zeeshan Ali lets it be and the ball beats the diving Gurbaz to his left for a boundary.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Babar Hayat, Babar is off the mark! Very full and outside off, angling across. Babar Hayat carves it out to mid off for a single.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Babar Hayat, Full and on middle and leg, Babar Hayat prods forward and pushes it to mid on.

Babar Hayat walks out to bat at number 3.