Highlights, Asia Cup 2018, Match 2: Pakistan start campaign with comprehensive eight-wicket win against Hong Kong

Pakistan vs Hong Kong, Highlights, Asia Cup 2018 Match 2 at Dubai:

Pakistan vs Hong Kong, 2nd Match Asia Cup 2018: Sixth consecutive win in ODIs for Pakistan. Agreed that all of those have been against minnows - 5 against Zimbabwe and one tonight. But still, they cannot control over whom they play. Before these 6 games, they lost 0-5 to New Zealand and that is how they started 2018. A mission which Pakistan would have wanted to achieve tonight. Hong Kong is such an opposition where complacency can cost one team and given that other units would fancy themselves to defeat them by big margins, the Men In Green would have wanted to make a statement. The bowlers struggled initially but then smartly lined to bowling tight lengths and restricted Hong Kong to 116. Usman Khan strut his stuff again, with a 3-fer while Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan took 2 wickets each. (SCORECARD)

Pakistan vs Hong Kong, Asia Cup 2018 Match 2, Live Cricket Scores & Updates From Dubai:

22.28 IST: Pakistan (120/2) beat Hong Kong (116) by eight wickets in Dubai. Imam 50*, Ehsan 2/34. FOUR! PAKISTAN WIN BY 8 WICKETS AND 158 BALLS TO SPARE! A short ball, around off, probably rises a shade but no issues for Malik as he pulls it with authority over mid-wicket to end the game. It has barely lasted 60 overs.

22.26 IST: FIFTY! Imam-ul-Haq hits first ODI half-century off 69 balls. Aizaz Khan to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run. MAIDEN ODI FIFTY FOR IMAM! This is the 5th time in ODI cricket that he has reached 50 but the previous four before tonight have seen him convert those into triple figures. A simple nudge through square leg to that small milestone. Scores are level now.  Pakistan 116/2 in 23.3 overs vs Hong Kong (116) in Dubai.

22.22 IST: FOUR! A boundary to conclude the over. Up and over. Good use of the feet. Dances down, gets to the pitch of the flighted delivery and thumps it over mid on. Two bounces and into the fence. Moves to 49. Pakistan need 3 to win.

22.15 IST: SIX! With an excellent footwork. What a shot. Seemed like a top edge but dear me, it has gone all the way! A flat hit. A short ball, Imam rocks back and tries to pull. From the first look, it seems like he is hurried into the stroke and gets a top edge. But no messrs, the ball flies over the mid-wicket fence.

22.11 IST: Shoaib Malik comes in at number 4 for the last rites...

22.10 IST: OUT! Ehsan Khan removes Babar Azam for 33. Got him! Ehsan Khan has his second wicket. Just keeps the length a bit fuller than the previous one but Babar thinks it is there for the cut. Perhaps the ball stayed a touch low as well. An outside edge is induced and this time, Scott McKechnie behind does not fumble. A clean catch and a good one. He immediately is up in celebration and now, the umpire does not disagree for a change. Nice to see the players celebrating and not being consumed by the match situation.  Pakistan 93/2 in 20.2 overs vs Hong Kong (116) in Dubai.

21.59 IST: FOUR! More quick runs coming for Pakistan. Classic shot. Landed outside off, Azam goes back, waits for the ball to come to him and then dabs it behind point for a boundary! Just 29 more to win now. PAK 88/1 in 17.5 overs.

21.58 IST: Babar Azam completes 2,000 ODI runs. He's the second fastest batsman in the world to score this many runs.

21.56 IST: FOUR! What a shot! He pushes it down the ground with ease. Full and outside off, Azam comes down the track and drives it straight down the ground past mid on. No one in the deep and that is a boundary.

21.50 IST: Nadeem Ahmed to Imam-ul-Haq, no run. Massive, massive LBW shout! Oh dear... Imam certainly seems to be riding his luck. This looked stone dead. Nadeem tossed this up from over the wicket and landed the ball in line of the stumps, at least, to the naked eye. Imam seemed to play all around that one as he looked to flick but missed the ball and was hit right in front of the sticks. Nadeem appealed and appealed but umpire George simply shook his head. Hawk Eye shows that to be plumb. Perhaps, the umpire might have thought the ball pitched outside leg. Sad day for Hong Kong. Nothing seems to be going their way.

21.48 IST: FOUR! PAK 71/1 in 15 overs. Nice way to end a good over by Ehsan Khan. Babar shows his class as he rocks quickly onto his back foot seeing the ball a bit short and wide of off, the right-hander cuts it immaculately through the point region. His foot work was classy there as he moved back and across so quickly to get into a perfect position to play that shot. The execution was even better from the world class batsman there. Just 46 more to get now.

21.43 IST: SIX! Azam stretches some muscles here. Fine shot. Tossed up slightly, Azam dances down the track and lofts this effortlessly over mid on. Goes all the way.

21.40 IST: Imam-ul-Haq Not Out! And that has surprised everyone of us here. Ehsan Khan fires this one from around the wicket and angling into Imam. The length is not short enough for the batsman to go back but that's exactly the mistake Imam has committed. The ball hits the deck and skids on with the arm hitting the batsman in front of the wickets. It looks very close as Hong Kong go up in a big appeal. The umpire gives it not out though to out surprise. Hong Kong has no choice but to go for the review. The replays roll in and show that the ball is very close to the bat as it is passes it and hits Imam's pads. There is no clear evidence of any involvement of the willow, however, the decision from upstairs it Not Out. Hong Kong players look stunned but they have to move on with the game. Close call for Imam.

21.38 IST: Review time! Imam-ul-Haq is the batsman in question. Big moment for Hong Kong.

21.35 IST: 50 up for Pakistan in 11.2 overs. Ahmed fires this one a bit outside off, Imam waits for the ball to arrive and smartly opens the face of his bat at the last moment to steer it into the third man region to pick up another brace. Pakistan are moving towards their target in a canter.

21.23 IST: Babar Azam is the new batsman in.

21.22 IST: OUT! Ehsan Khan removes Fakhar Zaman for 24. Breakthrough for Hong Kong, that too a big one at that. Can they build up on this and continue to pile pressure on the Pakistani batsmen? We surely will like to see a fight from the minnows. As for the dismissal, Ehsan Khan fires this one a bit outside off and shorter than a good length. Zaman sees the width and looks to cut it through the point region. The ball lands and skids through, Zaman is a bit late on the shot. He gets an outside edge and McKechnie behind takes a fine catch. That's one down Pakistan. Their star batsman, Babar Azam, is the next one in.  Pakistan 41/1 in 8.1 overs vs Hong Kong (116) in Dubai.

21.21 IST: Ehsan Khan into the attack from the other end.

21.18 IST: FOUR! A beautiful cover drive. One of the most beautiful sights in cricket. Khan keeps it on a good length around off, a bit wide of off may be because of the angle. Imam drives beautifully on the up and finds the gap in the covers region for the ball to races across the boundary. Nice start after the break and Pakistan. 76 more needed. PAK 41/0 in 8 overs.

21.15 IST: The players and the umpires are making their way out to the middle after a satisfying dinner. The Pakistani opening duo of Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will resume their innings with the latter taking strike. Aizaz Khan to start the proceedings for Hong Kong.

20.35 IST: A cautious period of play for Pakistan. They preferred to keep calm than go bang-bang in this small passage. However, towards the end of that 'session', Zaman seemed to lose patience.

20.33 IST: FOUR! No mercy. Save yourself. A length ball, on middle, Zaman comes down the track and hammers it straight back. Tanwir tries to stop it with his right hand but as an afterthought. The ball bursts through his hands but still has no intention to slow down. Races away to the fence down the ground. Zaman into the 20s now.

20.30 IST: SIX! BLAST! What would you do if someone told you that there is 1 minute to go for Lunch, Tea, Stumps, Dinner or Supper? I would certainly put the shutters down. Not this guy though. Not a bad ball at all. It is on a length, around middle, angling away and could have been left alone or defended. But this left-hander, gets down on a knee and swipes across the line to send the ball flying over the mid-wicket fence! 86 more to win now...

20.26 IST: FOUR! Loosener. Put away. A gently half volley, down the leg side, Imam flicks it through mid-wicket and the timing takes the ball all the way! The stand moves to 23 from 31 balls.

20.24 IST: A bowling change. 6 minutes to go for Supper. Aizaz Khan has been introduced.

20.23 IST: Tanwir Afzal to Fakhar Zaman, no run. Full and straight, driven straight to mid off. ANOTHER MAIDEN!!! Second for Hong Kong in 5 overs. Pakistan bowled 3 in their 37.1.  PAK 19/0 in 5 overs.

20.17 IST: FOUR! FLAMBOYANT! The first boundary of the run chase. Full and wide outside off, both openers have been getting plenty of these and finally one has managed to reach the ropes. Zaman reaches out and this time does not use his power. Just timing and placement. Through the covers, in the gap and to the fence. Moves to 12 from 11 balls. PAK 16/0 in 3.3 overs.

20.09 IST: Ehsan Nawaz to Fakhar Zaman, NO BALL! Nawaz oversteps and bowls it on a length down the leg side, Zaman is surprised by the pace on that and misses his flick. Is hit on the pads. Perfect time to wind up. What's on the Free Hit?

20.07 IST: Ehsan Nawaz to bowl with the second new ball.

20.06 IST: Tanwir Afzal to Imam-ul-Haq, no run. Full and outside off, Imam walks way too far down the track, probably realizing that Tanwir neither has the pace nor any swing and drives it towards mid off.

20.02 IST: The players are back for the run chase. This is a tricky little period for the batsmen. Around 25-30 minutes to survive before they go in for Supper. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq are the openers for Pakistan. Tanwir Afzal to start off the proceedings with Imam on strike.

19.52 IST: Hong Kong all out for 116 in 37.1 overs against Pakistan in Dubai. Usman 3/19. Ehsan Nawaz OUT! That's the final nail in the coffin! On a length on middle and off, Nawaz taps it towards mid on and takes off. His partner doesn't respond and turns his back to him. The substitute, Mohammad Nawaz has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Ali is backing up, picks up the ball and lobs it to Sarfraz as Ehsan is stranded halfway. He tries to get back but the keeper takes the bails off. He looks angry. It is taken upstairs. The replay finds the batsman well short. HONG KONG ARE BOWLED OUT FOR 116!

19.49 IST: Shadab Khan to Nadeem Ahmed, no run. Outside off, Ahmed pushes at it but misses.  HKG 116/9 in 37 overs.

19.45 IST: FOUR! Shot! Googly around off, Nawaz picks it to perfection and sweeps it all along the carpet through square leg. Beats the man in the deep to pick up a boundary.

19.40 IST: FOUR! What a shot from the No. 11! He holds his pose for the cameras after playing that one. Full ball on middle and leg, Ahmed with a high backlift lifts it over mid on to find the fence.

19.37 IST: OUT! Hasan Ali to KD Shah for 26. Hasan Ali gets his second wicket! Hong Kong are sliding downhill in a jiffy. On a length around off, leaving the southpaw. Shah is not quite to the pitch of the ball as he pushes at it and is not in control of the shot as well. It flies towards Shadab Khan at backward point who leaps and takes it with utmost ease. Hong Kong 99/9 in 33.1 overs vs Pakistan in Dubai.

19.35 IST: Usman Khan is walking off the field. Not a good news for Pakistan as he is in really good form and there is an important match coming up against India on 19th September. Hopefully it is nothing serious. Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman will complete his over.

19.27 IST: Ehsan Nawaz is the new man in.

19.26 IST: OUT! Usman Khan removes Tanwir Afzal for 0. Make that three wickets in the over! Usman Khan is on fire. He is running through the lower order single-handedly. Steams in from around the wicket and bowls a fuller length ball around off. The ball seams in a touch after landing and that is enough to breach the forward defense of Afzal to hit the timber. Usman will be on a hat-trick in the next over. Hong Kong 97/8 in 31 overs vs Pakistan in Dubai.

19.24 IST: Tanwir Afzal comes out to bat.

19.23 IST: OUT! Usman Khan removes Scott McKechnie for 0. Another one bites the dust! The DRS hasn't come into play because of the batsman's mistake. I think that it would have hardly mattered as it looked to the naked eye. Coming back to the ball, it is full and fast around off. McKechnie shuffles across and tries to clip it across but misses to get hit on the boots. Another convincing shout from Pakistan and up goes the umpire's finger.  Hong Kong 97/7 in 30.5 overs vs Pakistan in Dubai.

19.21 IST: McKechnie has taken a late call to take the review against an LBW decision. However, the umpire walks across to him and tells that he has exceeded the stipulated time, that is 15 seconds, before he challenged the decision. He has been given the marching orders now.

19.18 IST: Scott McKechnie comes out to bat.

19.17 IST: OUT! Usman Khan removes Aizaz Khan for 27. Bowled 'em! The sound of timber is music to the ears of a pace bower. Usman is absolutely delighted! The promising 53-run stand has been nipped in the bud. Coming back to the ball, it is in the avenue of apprehension. Aizaz is unsure whether to come forward or stay back. Eventually, he takes a step forward gingerly in order to block it but the ball nips in after pitching and the batsman is beaten by pace as well. Misses it altogether to get his stumps shattered.  Hong Kong 97/6 in 30.2 overs vs Pakistan in Dubai.

19.14 IST: Mohammad Amir to Kinchit Shah, no run. Straighter on this occasion, fuller in length, helped to the man at square leg.  HKG 96/5 in 30 overs.

19.08 IST: Usman Khan to Aizaz Khan, Safe! Brilliant use of the DRS from Hong Kong. Usman comes from around the wicket and bowls a good length ball around off. Aizaz tries to pull it across but is hit high on the back pad. Pakistan appeal in unison and the umpire obliges. Shah tells his partner to challenge the decision and he does so. Time for the replays. The Hawk Eye rolls in and shows that the ball is going over the stumps. Relief for the batsman.

19.06 IST: Review time! Aizaz Khan has been trapped in front of the wickets but his partner eggs him to take the review instantly to which he agrees. Height can be the only factor which might save him.

18.57 IST: FOUR! A boundary from the moment he hit it. Nicely done! Shadab tosses this one outside off, Khan kneels and takes it on the full to slog sweep it over mid-wicket for a boundary. HKG 86/5 in 26.2 overs.

18.52 IST: Mohammad Amir comes back for a bowl.

18.49 IST: SIX! Quick runs for Hong Kong. BANG! That has come out of the blue. Absolutely against the run of play as Khan skips down the track and gets to the pitch of this tossed up ball and swings through the line of the delivery to get it over the mid off fielder. The elevation, and timing is exquisite and the ball sails over the long off boundary for a huge one. Hing Kong will love to get more of these and get some quick runs on the board.

18.45 IST: Shadab Khan to Aizaz Khan, no run. A bit slower and fuller in length. Khan comes forward looking to keep it out but the ball turns away from him and takes the thick outside edge to roll towards the short third man fielder. No run and no harm done. HKG 69/5 in 23 overs.

18.39 IST: FOUR! Straight like an arrow! Lovely shot. Tossed up outside off, Kinchit drives this straight down the ground. Mid off is a bit wide and cannot get across in time.

18.36 IST: Shoaib Malik to Kinchit Shah, wide! HOWZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT? Not out, says the umpire. Sarfraz does not take the review. Wide signalled instead. Full and down the leg side, Kinchit looks to sweep but misses. Sarfraz collects and immediately appeals but does not meet any response. Aaah... Snickometer detects a spike when the ball passes the bat!!

18.34 IST: Shoaib Malik time.

18.31 IST: FOUR! A good looking shot there to lift Hong Kong. MISFIELD, FOUR! Poor from Fakhar. Full and wide outside off, this time Aizaz picks the spin and lofts it wide of Imam-ul-Haq at short extra cover. The ball should have been cut off by the fielders in the deep but Zaman reaches, dives and tries to pull the ball back in but it rolls back into the ropes.

18.26 IST: Aizaz Khan walks in.

18.25 IST: OUT! Shadab Khan removes Ehsan Khan for 0. What a trap this from Shadab. Beat him with a tossed up leggie on the previous ball and then fires in a perfectly executed googly in line with the stumps. Khan is completely beaten by pace as he rocks back looking to turn it into the leg side off the back foot. The batsman expected the ball to turn away but to his shock it comes in and that too a bit quicker on landing. The ball beats his inside edge and raps the pads in front of the wickets. Pakistan go up confidently and the umpire obliges immediately. Very very smart spin bowling from Shadab. He completely foxed Ehsan there. Half the side back in the hut.  Hong Kong 44/5 in 16.3 overs vs Pakistan in Dubai.

18.24 IST: Ehsan Khan is the new man in at number 6, replacing Hayat.

18.23 IST: OUT! Shadab Khan removes Hayat for 7. Easy as chalk and cheese. Shadab strikes with his first ball. Tosses this one outside off and Hayat, without even having the patience to try and read him first, wildly jumps down the track. Looks to swing wildly but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and misses as it turns away slightly. Sarfraz doesn't. Easy stumping. Hong Kong 44/4 in 16.1 overs vs Pakistan in Dubai.

18.22 IST: First sign of spin. Shadab Khan into the attack.

18.15 IST: Drinks time. So as expected, Pakistan have managed to keep things tight and have also sent three Hong Kong batsmen packing. Hong Kong will look to build a partnership and form a strong base. The two batsmen will hope to bat until the next drinks break. Their lower order could then launch an attack during the final overs of the innings. Pakistan will be keen on entering the Hong Kong tail as soon as possible.

18.13 IST: Faheem Ashraf to Babar Hayat, no run. Bumper again, good height this time. Hayat does well to get under it and let it go.  HKG 42/3 in 15 overs.

18.05 IST: Kinchit Shah is the next batsman in.

18.04 IST: OUT! Hasan Ali removes Christopher Carter for 2. Three down. Hasan strikes! No celebration though. Oh there it is... a mild one. A length ball outside off, Carter walks down the track and tries to hit it through the covers. However, he does not keep it down. Imam-ul-Haq at extra cover takes a sharp catch and Hong Kong have lost another. Whenever such dismissals are seen, I remember the great Ian Chappell on air during the 2007 ODI World Cup. Ian Bell of England got out to Australia during a league game, trying to hit the ball over he top, getting caught in a similar fashion as Carter today. That time, Chappell had remarked, 'Well, there is no point in playing this kind of a shot. You either go over the top and clear the infield or hit the ball along the ground. Not the in-between shots which are neither over nor along.'  Hong Kong 39/3 in 13.2 overs vs Pakistan in Dubai.

17.55 IST: Hasan Ali into the attack.

17.52 IST: PowerPlay 2 time. Four fielder allowed outside the 30 yard circle until the 40th over.

17.50 IST: Usman Khan to Babar Hayat, no run. Good ball to end the over as this length ball on middle and off is kept out with a straight bat. HKG 32/2 in 10 overs.

17.45 IST: Christopher Carter is the new man in.

17.44 IST: OUT! Faheem Ashraf removes Anshuman Rath for 19. Hong Kong 32/2 in 8.5 overs vs Pakistan in Dubai.

17.42 IST: FOUR! Cracker of a cut! Ashraf starts off with a loosner as he dishes this one on a shorter length and well outside off. Rath has enough time to rock back and across and cut is fiercely through point. The ball zips across the outside and the boundary. Ideal start to the over by Hong Kong.

17.40 IST: Faheem Ashraf into the attack.

17.38 IST: FOUR! BLAST! Short and outside off, Rath flays his arms and crashes this uppishly, over point for a boundary.

17.34 IST: Mohammad Amir to Babar Hayat, no run. A good length ball around off is kept out with a straight ball.

17.29 IST: FOUR! Not that convincing but he will take it! Back of a length and some room on offer, the Hong Kong skipper stays back and with minimal footwork guides it past the slip region to the third man fence.

17.23 IST: Babar Hayat comes out to bat.

17.22 IST: OUT! Nizakat Khan run out for 13. Lack of experience showing here. Hong Kong have gifted away a wicket. Nizakat will be kicking himself as he won't be getting such chances more often. Coming back to the dismissal, Amir lands this a bit shorter of a good length around off. Rath taps this towards point and takes off. Nizakat responds but is a bit slow to start. Shadab quickly moves across, picks up the ball and has a shy at the batting end. Nizakat is seen jogging to the crease and does not even drag his bat as the ball hits the stumps directly. There is a run out appeal and it has been referred upstairs. Replays show that as the ball hits the stumps, Nizakat's bat is in the air and he is also not inside the crease. May be he was trying to avoid getting hit and that has cost him his wicket, not very smart.  Hong Kong 17/1 in 4.3 overs vs Pakistan in Dubai.

17.18 IST: Usman Khan to Nizakat Khan, no run. A shorter of a good length ball around off is pushed towards point. HKG 17/0 in 4 overs.

17.13 IST: Mohammad Amir to Nizakat Khan, no run. A good ball in the corridor of uncertainty is blocked out well by Khan to end the over.

17.06 IST: Usman Khan to bowl with the second new ball.

17.03 IST: FOUR! What a start for Hong Kong! Amir misses his line again and strays down the leg side. Khan gets some bat on it which is more than enough to take the ball racing to the fine leg boundary. Amir not getting it right here. He needs to focus and come back strong now.  10 runs already on the board.

17.01 IST: FOUR! If they dreamt of a start, it would have been similar to this. Classic timing there by Khan as he flicks this full length delivery angling onto his pads. The ball races across the deep square leg boundary and Hong Kong have started on a high.

17.00 IST: The players are getting ready to pose for the team photographs. It is now time for the national anthems. After the completion, we are ready to get rolling. Nizakat Khan and Anshuman Rath will open the batting for Hong Kong. Mohammad Amir to steam in with the first new ball. Two slips in place. 

16.55 IST: The players are getting ready to pose for the team photographs. It is now time for the national anthems.

16.50 IST: Hong Kong captain Anshuman Rath says there is no better place to perform for them than the Asia Cup. Adds further that as a team they are fit, in good form, full of confidence and raring to go out and perform. Reckons that they have beaten top teams in the past and are confident of repeating it. States that at this level it is all about confidence. Ends by saying that they will look to continue with their good form and confidence with which they won the Qualifiers a few days ago.

16.45 IST: Hong Kong captain Anshuman Rath says there is no better place to perform for them than the Asia Cup. Adds further that as a team they are fit, in good form, full of confidence and raring to go out and perform. Reckons that they have beaten top teams in the past and are confident of repeating it. States that at this level it is all about confidence. Ends by saying that they will look to continue with their good form and confidence with which they won the Qualifiers a few days ago.

16.40 IST: Here are the teams for Asia Cup Match 2 between Pakistan and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Playing XI: Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath (c), Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Christopher Carter, Ehsan Khan, Aizaz Khan, Scott McKechnie (w), Tanwir Afzal, Ehsan Nawaz, Nadeem Ahmed

Pakistan Playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (w/c), Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan

16.32 IST: TOSS! Hong Kong win toss, opt to bat against Pakistan in Dubai.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today's match as Pakistan take on Hong Kong at the Dubai International Stadium. The toss will take place at 4.30 PM IST and the match will commence from 5.00 PM IST. 

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Brief Report: Following an impressive 144-run knock by Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh bowlers delighted as they bowled Sri Lanka out for 124 runs in the chase of 262 to register a 137-run win in the opening match of the Asia Cup 2018 in Dubai on Saturday. Mushfiqur scored a career-best 144 off 150 balls with 11 boundaries and four sixes for his sixth ODI hundred as Bangladesh scored 261 all out in 49.3 overs after opting to bat. Save the 131-run stand with Mohammed Mithun (63) for the third wicket, the former skipper didn't get any assistance from other Bangladesh batsmen as the wily Malinga showed that he is still a force to reckon with. (READ FULL MATCH REPORT HERE)